TY  - JOUR
A1  - Solis-Soto, Maria Teresa
A1  - Nicoli, Francesco
A1  - Paudel, Deepak
T1  - Relationship between vaccination and nutritional status in children: Analysis of recent Demographic and Health Surveys
Y1  - 2020/01/03
JF  - Demographic Research
JO  - Demographic Research
SN  - 1435-9871
SP  - 1
EP  - 14
DO  - 10.4054/DemRes.2020.42.1
VL  - 42
IS  - 1
UR  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol42/1/
L1  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol42/1/42-1.pdf
L2  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol42/1/42-1.pdf
L3  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol42/1/files/readme.42-1.txt
L3  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol42/1/files/demographic-research.42-1.zip
L3  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol42/1/files/demographic-research.42-1_Supplemental%20Tables%20.pdf
N2  - Background: A body of evidence suggests that vaccines support the development of the immune system and also improve overall health. 

Objective: To study the effect of the complete basic vaccination schedule (Bacille Calmette-Guérin, i.e., BCG; measles; polio 3; and Diphtheria, Tetanus toxoids, and Pertussis, i.e., DTP3) on nutritional status of children under 2 years of age. 

Methods: Recent DHS data from 16 countries conducted after 2013 were used. After a bivariate descriptive analysis, a logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict the likelihood of underweight, stunting, and wasting by immunization status. A combined odds ratio was computed and adjusted for background variables. 

Results: A significantly higher prevalence of underweight was found among children with incomplete vaccination schedules in seven countries. Similarly, wasting and stunting were frequently observed in under-vaccinated children in four countries. Moreover, logistic regression adjusted for background variables revealed a relation between incomplete vaccination and underweight in Angola, Chad, and Guatemala (95% CI lower bound > 1). Combining data of all countries, underweight (adjusted Odds Ratio, aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11‒1.31), wasting (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05‒1.33), and stunting (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00‒1.14) were associated with poor vaccination status. The overall effect was consistent with both sexes except the results for wasting for females and stunting for males, though insignificant. 

Contribution: To our knowledge, this is the first paper assessing the relation between vaccination and nutritional status at a multi-country level with a huge dataset. Our analysis suggests a poor nutritional status in children with an incomplete vaccination schedule. 

ER  -