The intergenerational transmission of low height growth in sub-Saharan Africa

Despite the decline of child stunting worldwide, levels are still subjects of concern, with about one in five children under five-year-old that is under his growth potential. Sub-Saharan Africa is even more affected. To curb the multi-faceted impact on the population, analyses have been carried out to identify the underlying factors. They show that already at this age, children benefit from their parents' health potential. The aim of this study is to estimate the extent of the impact and the factors associated with maternal and paternal stature on the risk of offspring stunting in sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, datasets from demographic and health surveys conducted in 13 countries that included anthropometric measurements of both parents and their children were used. Using the pooled data from 24,148 under five year-old children, we obtained a stunting prevalence of 29.7%, with a higher level for boys (31.6% versus 27.7%). The adjusted effects of mother's height and nutritional status were twice those of father. However, the effects of the parents' characteristics are similar for child's sex. Thus, interventions to anticipate child growth should be undertaken earlier at adolescence of the ascendants themselves to interrupt the vicious cycle of stunting.