Child feeding and stunting prevalence in left-behind children: a descriptive analysis of data from a central and western Chinese population

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of parental rural-to-urban internal migration on nutritional status of left-behind children and how this is related to guardianship. METHODS: We used UNICEF China’s maternal and child health survey data to investigate stunting prevalence and feeding practices in children left behind by rural-to-urban internal migrant parents. We also assessed the effects of primary guardianship which is related closely with parental migration. RESULTS: Of 6136 children aged 0–3 years, over one-third was left behind by one or both parents. About 13 % were left behind by mothers, leaving guardianship primarily to grandmothers. Left-behind status was not associated with stunting, yet children who were cared for primarily by their fathers had a 32 % increase of stunting compared to children cared for by the mothers [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.32; 95 % confidence interval = 1.04–1.67]. Children with migrant mothers were less likely to receive age-appropriate breastfeeding (aOR = 0.04;0.02–0.10) and a minimum acceptable diet (aOR = 0.56;0.39–0.79) compared with non-left-behind children. CONCLUSIONS: Guardian’s feeding behaviours varied, and was inappropriate for both children affected and not affected by parent’s rural-to-urban internal migration. Community-based infant and young child feeding counselling and support should be provided to all caregivers. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0844-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.