Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the magnitude and risk factors associated with concurrent anthropometric and nutritional deficiencies among children aged 6 to 59 months in Liberia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multilevel analysis using data from the 2019 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem. The study examined the prevalence of common problems, such as stunting, wasting, and anaemia, among children in Liberia to gain a deeper understanding of the issue. This study employed four different regression models. These models included panel mixed-effects Poisson regression, panel mixed-effects logistic regression, Poisson regression, and conditional fixed-effects regression. RESULTS: Our findings showed that, among children aged 6–59 months in Liberia, the prevalence of stunting was 31.98%. Additionally, wasting was 6.84%, underweight was 11.97%, and anaemia was 34.09%. Notably, children aged 24–35 months faced a significantly higher risk, with a 59.2% increased incidence rate of concurrent deficiencies (IRR = 1.592, p < 0.05). Female children had a 22.6% lower incidence of deficiencies compared to males (IRR = 0.774, p < 0.05). Household wealth status showed a strong protective effect, with children in the wealthiest households experiencing a 46.3% lower risk of multiple deficiencies (IRR = 0.537, p < 0.01). Complete immunisation was linked to a 37.8% reduction in the incidence of deficiencies (IRR = 0.622, p < 0.05). Furthermore, concurrent anaemia and stunting (CAS) were present in 37.0% of cases, with children in the wealthiest households having 87% lower odds (AOR = 0.130, p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: By implementing effective interventions that promote proper nutrition and growth, policymakers and stakeholders can work toward improving the health and well-being of children in Liberia and reducing the burden of concurrent anthropometric and nutritional deficiencies. We therefore recommend that policymakers and practitioners in Liberia prioritize cluster-specific interventions to promote child health, given the high variability at the cluster level.