The Impact of Climate Change and Socioeconomic Factors on Child Undernutrition in Karnali Nepal.

Abstract

Background: The nutritional status of children in South Asian regions is already under threat from rising global temperatures and more unpredictable rainfall and humidity patterns. Child undernutrition based on mid-upper arm circumference has been a major concern for Nepal as it is the highest among children in the world.

Objective: The objective of our study is to determine the climate change and socioeconomic determinants of undernutrition in children under 3 years.

Methods: This study explored the sample of 538 children ranging in age from 3 to <36 months using a binary logistic regression model to determine the climate change and socioeconomic factors associated with child undernutrition.

Results: Our study estimated approximately 24% of children are undernourished. Our analysis in the adjusted multivariable logistic regression model found that children born between 65% and 75% humidity were 3.48 times more likely to be undernutrition as compared to the humidity level at <65% (adjusted odds ratio = 3.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-11.18). The bivariate analysis found that children born at a temperature higher than 30°C were four times more likely to suffer from undernutrition (odds ratio = 4.00; 95% CI: 1.19-13.44). The study revealed that children who had low childbirth weight were eight times more at risk of being undernutrition.

Conclusions: Our study revealed that temperature, precipitation, climate hazard, occupation of the mother, and health facility distance were common climate change and socioeconomic risk factors of child undernutrition in Nepal.