Association of sickle cell disease with nutritional status among under-five children: a secondary analysis of Nigeria demographic and health survey 2018 data.

Abstract Background Malnutrition in childhood brings lots of difficulties that hinder to lead a healthy life. Nigeria is one of the most populous country in Africa has record of largest number of children suffered from chronic malnutrition under five years age. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common haemoglobinopathy which occurs in Nigerian children. The aim of the present study is towards recognize the nutritional status of children sufferings from SCD and findings association with other socio-economic characteristics. Method A population based cross sectional survey was performed and total 11,243 children were selected for anthropometric measurement, hemoglobin test and genotype test. A two- stage stratified cluster sampling was applied in this study and using biomarker questionnaire support to collect data. Finally, multivariable logistic regression was used to discovery association between SCD children with stunting and wasting combined with other socio-economic characteristics. Result Children with sickle cell disease had significantly higher odds (aOR =1.47;95% confidence interval (CI) : 1.13-1.91) of stunting compared children with non-sickle cell disease .Conferring to gender, female children had significantly lower odds (aOR = 0.74,95% confidence interval (CI) : 0.68-0-81) of stunting compared with male children. Children from richest group had significantly lower odds (aOR=0.34;95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28-0.41) of stunting compared with the poorest group. There was no significant association observed between wasting and children with sickle cell disease. Conclusion The results indicate that SCD places a nutritional burden on affected under five children in Nigeria. Higher number of SCD affected children were suffering from stunting compare to healthy children. However, there was no significant difference on wasting between SCD and healthy children.