Margaret Duah Atuahene, Frank Quarshie, Christian Arhinful, Pamela Achiaa Addai, Habiba Yussif, Francis Kwaku Nyasem, Marian Adriana De-Veer, Celestine Enyonam Mensah, Maurice Ofoe Gorleku, Daniel Eshun, Prince Aubin, Mercy Oppong, Daniel Dzakah, Yakubu Adam, John Mevemeo, Christian Maduabuchi Eke, Swallah Alhaji Suraka, Philip Narteh Gorleku
Sage Open Pediatrics · Vol. 13 ·
DOI: 10.1177/30502225261494872
In plain English
In a study of 265 children and their mothers in Cape Coast, one in five children was stunted. Stunting was more common where mothers had less education, lower income or no job, and less common among children who were exclusively breastfed for their first six months.
Key findings
- Stunting affected 20.7% of children, wasting 11.3% and underweight 16.6%.
- 36.7% of children of unemployed mothers were stunted, the highest of any group.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for six months was linked to lower stunting (15.8%).
- Overall adherence to recommended breastfeeding practices was moderate (69.2%).
Abstract
This study assessed the association of maternal socioeconomic status and breastfeeding practices with the rates of malnutrition in South-Central Ghana. This multi-center cross-sectional study used a pretested questionnaire to collect data from 265 children and their mothers from June to October 2024. Pearson’s Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were employed, and p-value≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. The rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 20.7%, 11.3%, and 16.6%, respectively. Stunting was higher among children whose mothers had lower educational levels (p=0.001) and among children of mothers aged 25–34 years ( p =0.015). Children of unemployed mothers recorded the highest proportion of stunting (36.7%, p =0.005). Low maternal income was associated with increased stunting (26.9%, p =0.022). Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months showed a lower stunting rate (15.8%, p =0.010). Overall adherence to recommended breastfeeding practices was moderate (69.15%). Malnutrition remains prevalent among children in South-Central Ghana and is associated with maternal socioeconomic status and feeding practices.
How to cite
Atuahene, M. D., Quarshie, F., Arhinful, C., Addai, P. A., Yussif, H., Nyasem, F. K., De-Veer, M. A., Mensah, C. E., Gorleku, M. O., Eshun, D., Aubin, P., Oppong, M., Dzakah, D., Adam, Y., Mevemeo, J., Eke, C. M., Suraka, S. A., Gorleku, P. N. (2026). Association of Breastfeeding Practices and Maternal Socioeconomic Status With Child Malnutrition in Cape Coast Metropolis, South-Central Ghana. Sage Open Pediatrics, 13. https://doi.org/10.1177/30502225261494872