Sex differences in child stunting in sub-Saharan Africa: A meta-analysis of twenty countries from 2010 to 2016

Globally, the prevalence of child stunting is almost the same for both sexes. However, in developing countries, boys are more likely to be shorter than the norm for their age and sex. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a need to understand this widespread phenomenon in order to help reduce the high prevalence and low decreasing level of stunting observed, in comparison to other parts of the world. In this perspective, we used pooled data from the demographic and health surveys conducted in twenty sub-Saharan countries. On the basis of 134,814 children under the age of five years with a valid anthropometric index constituted, the prevalence of child stunting obtained is 33.4%, with 35.4% (CI=[34.7%; 36.1%]) for boys and 31.3% (CI=[30.6%; 32.0%]) for girls; the largest gender gaps are found in the Great Lakes countries (Rwanda (8.1 points) and Burundi (8.9 points)). It appears that the gender gap in stunting in sub-Saharan Africa is more related to the size of the child at birth, the number of siblings, the birth assistance and wasting. Intensified action on these modifiable factors could help to reduce the observed gender differences and ultimately improve the overall nutritional status of children.