Background: Stunting is a major public health problem that results from inadequate nutritional
intake over a long period of time. Disasters have major implications in poor and vulnerable children.
The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess the impact of disasters on child stunting in Nepal.
Method: A sample consisting of 2,111 children aged 6–59 months was obtained from the 2011
Nepal Demographic and Health Survey. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine
moderate and severe stunting against disaster, controlling for all possible confounders.
Result: Out of the total study sample, 43% were stunted (17.1% severely and 25.9% moderately).
The final model, after adjusting for confounders, showed that epidemics have no impact on child
stunting (adjusted odds ratio [OR] =1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 1.97 and adjusted
OR =1.04, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.65 for severe and moderate stunting, respectively). Floods have impact
on child stunting (adjusted OR =0.57, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.96 and adjusted OR =0.66, 95% CI:
0.41, 0.94 for severe and moderate stunting, respectively). However, children aged 6–11 months,
nonvaccinated children, children of working women, children who live in mountainous areas,
and children from the poorest households were more likely to be moderately stunted. Similarly,
children aged 36–47 months, Dalit and other ethnic groups, children from rural settings, and
children from the poorest households were more likely to be severely stunted.
Conclusion: This article illustrates the need to rethink about child stunting in Nepal. This study
suggests need for further research, integration of disaster data in the Nepal Demography Health
Survey, educational interventions, public awareness, promotion of vaccination, and equity in
health service delivery.