What explains the large disparity in child stunting in the Philippines? A decomposition analysis

OBJECTIVE: About one-third of under-five Filipino children are stunted, with significant socio-economic inequality. This study aims to quantify factors that explain the large gap in stunting between poor and non-poor Filipino children. DESIGN: Using the 2015 Philippine National Nutrition Survey, we conducted a linear probability model to examine the determinants of child stunting and then an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to explain the factors contributing to the gap in stunting between poor and non-poor children. SETTING: Philippines. PARTICIPANTS: 1881 children aged 6–23 months participated in this study. RESULTS: The overall stunting prevalence was 38·5 % with a significant gap between poor and non-poor (45·0 % v. 32·0 %). Maternal height, education and maternal nutrition status account for 26 %, 18 % and 17 % of stunting inequality, respectively. These are followed by quality of prenatal care (12 %), dietary diversity (12 %) and iron supplementation in children (5 %). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal factors account for more than 50 % of the gap in child stunting in the Philippines. This signifies the critical role of maternal biological and socio-economic circumstances in improving the linear growth of children.