Age and sex interaction in child under-nutrition in Malawi

Malawi just as many other developing countries, continues to be challenged by the problem of child under-nutrition. Recent estimates indicate that in Malawi, 47% of children under the age of five are stunted whilst 13% are underweight (ORC Macro and NSO, 2011). Most of studies, including those conducted in Malawi report of a higher likelihood of stunting and underweight for male children compared to female children (Madise et al., 1999, Chirwa and Ngalawa, 2008). This study uses the 2004 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey data to study if the relationship between sex and child under-nutrition in Malawi depends on the age of child and undertakes age group multivariate analysis to explore factors that are important for child under-nutrition amongst children in different age groups. The findings indicate that although female children have a lower likelihood of stunting and a lower likelihood of underweight compared to male children, there is a significant interaction between age and sex of child. Male children are more likely to be underweight and more likely to be stunted compared to female children during the weaning time when nutritional demands increase as children get introduced to solid foods.