Structured Additive Quantile Regression for Assessing the Determinants of Childhood Anemia in Rwanda

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Title Structured Additive Quantile Regression for Assessing the Determinants of Childhood Anemia in Rwanda
Author(s)
Volume 14
Issue 6
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2017
Page numbers 652
URL http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/6/652
Abstract
Childhood anemia is among the most significant health problems faced by public health
departments in developing countries. This study aims at assessing the determinants and possible
spatial effects associated with childhood anemia in Rwanda. The 2014/2015 Rwanda Demographic
and Health Survey (RDHS) data was used. The analysis was done using the structured spatial additive
quantile regression model. The findings of this study revealed that the child’s age; the duration of
breastfeeding; gender of the child; the nutritional status of the child (whether underweight and/or
wasting); whether the child had a fever; had a cough in the two weeks prior to the survey or not;
whether the child received vitamin A supplementation in the six weeks before the survey or not; the
household wealth index; literacy of the mother; mother’s anemia status; mother’s age at the birth
are all significant factors associated with childhood anemia in Rwanda. Furthermore, significant
structured spatial location effects on childhood anemia was found.

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