The effect of malaria on stunting: an instrumental variables approach

François Freddy Ateba; Seydou Doumbia; Feiko Ter Kuile; Anja Terlouw; Genevieve Lefebvre; Simon Kariuki; Dylan S. Small

doi:10.1093/trstmh/traa183

The effect of malaria on stunting: an instrumental variables approach

François Freddy Ateba
, Seydou Doumbia
, Feiko Ter Kuile
, Anja Terlouw
, Genevieve Lefebvre
, Simon Kariuki
, Dylan S. Small

Clinical Sciences

Université de Bamako
Université du Québec à Montréal
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme
University of Pennsylvania

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

Previous studies have found mixed evidence for an effect of malaria on stunting, but have suffered from concerns about confounding and/or power. Currently, an effect of malaria on stunting is not included in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) model.

Methods

We used instrumental variables regression with the sickle cell trait and random assignment to bednets as instruments in the analysis of data on children aged 0–2 y from a bednet trial in western Kenya.

Results

We estimated that one additional clinical malaria episode per year increases the odds of a child being stunted by 6% (OR estimate: 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11).

Conclusions

Our finding that malaria affects stunting suggests that an effect of malaria on stunting in young children should be considered in the LiST model.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1094-1098
Number of pages	5
Journal	Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume	115
Issue number	9
Early online date	25 Jan 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/traa183
Publication status	Published - 3 Sept 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

ITNs
IV
LiST model
Malaria

Access to Document

10.1093/trstmh/traa183

Ateba malaria and stunting Kenya TRSTMH 2021Accepted author manuscript, 110 KB

Cite this

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title = "The effect of malaria on stunting: an instrumental variables approach",

abstract = "BackgroundPrevious studies have found mixed evidence for an effect of malaria on stunting, but have suffered from concerns about confounding and/or power. Currently, an effect of malaria on stunting is not included in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) model.MethodsWe used instrumental variables regression with the sickle cell trait and random assignment to bednets as instruments in the analysis of data on children aged 0–2 y from a bednet trial in western Kenya.ResultsWe estimated that one additional clinical malaria episode per year increases the odds of a child being stunted by 6\% (OR estimate: 1.06, 95\% CI 1.01 to 1.11).ConclusionsOur finding that malaria affects stunting suggests that an effect of malaria on stunting in young children should be considered in the LiST model.",

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AU - Ateba, François Freddy

AU - Doumbia, Seydou

AU - Ter Kuile, Feiko

AU - Terlouw, Anja

AU - Lefebvre, Genevieve

AU - Kariuki, Simon

AU - Small, Dylan S.

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N2 - BackgroundPrevious studies have found mixed evidence for an effect of malaria on stunting, but have suffered from concerns about confounding and/or power. Currently, an effect of malaria on stunting is not included in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) model.MethodsWe used instrumental variables regression with the sickle cell trait and random assignment to bednets as instruments in the analysis of data on children aged 0–2 y from a bednet trial in western Kenya.ResultsWe estimated that one additional clinical malaria episode per year increases the odds of a child being stunted by 6% (OR estimate: 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11).ConclusionsOur finding that malaria affects stunting suggests that an effect of malaria on stunting in young children should be considered in the LiST model.

AB - BackgroundPrevious studies have found mixed evidence for an effect of malaria on stunting, but have suffered from concerns about confounding and/or power. Currently, an effect of malaria on stunting is not included in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) model.MethodsWe used instrumental variables regression with the sickle cell trait and random assignment to bednets as instruments in the analysis of data on children aged 0–2 y from a bednet trial in western Kenya.ResultsWe estimated that one additional clinical malaria episode per year increases the odds of a child being stunted by 6% (OR estimate: 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11).ConclusionsOur finding that malaria affects stunting suggests that an effect of malaria on stunting in young children should be considered in the LiST model.

KW - ITNs

KW - IV

KW - LiST model

KW - Malaria

U2 - 10.1093/trstmh/traa183

DO - 10.1093/trstmh/traa183

M3 - Article

SN - 0035-9203

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The effect of malaria on stunting: an instrumental variables approach

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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