ArticlePloS one2026
Determinants of stunting among 0-59 months children in Lesotho: A multilevel analysis of 2023/24 Demographic and Health Survey.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundStunting is height for age below minus 2 standard deviations of the World Health Organization standard. It affected more than one-third of children in Lesotho. Few studies applied multilevel model to identify individual, household, and community-level determinants. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and multilevel determinants of stunting among children aged 0-59 months in Lesotho using data from the 2023/24 Demographic and Health Survey.
methodsWe included a weighted 1,488 children aged 0-59 months across 400 enumeration areas. The weighted prevalence of stunting was determined. Individual and community level determinants of stunting were identified at a 0.05 level of significance. Models were compared using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and Proportional Change in Variance (PCV).
resultsPrevalence of stunting was 35.59% (95% CI: 33.20-38.06). Its determinants were male (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.09-1.82), age 12-23 months (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.48-4.14) and 24-59 months (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.20-3.24), 4-7 birth order (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.01-2.03), and poor (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.85-3.59) and middle wealth index (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.37-3.03). Qacha's Nek, Thaba-Tseka, Mohale's Hoek, and Quthing have a higher prevalence of stunting.
conclusion35.59% of children 0-59 months in Lesotho are stunted. Its determinants were male, age 12-23 and 24-59 months, poor and middle wealth, and higher birth order. Ministry of Health, Non-governmental organizations, and community health workers should therefore strengthen age-specific, equity-driven nutrition programs.
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