The magnitude and risk factors for concurrent anthropometric and nutritional deficiency among children aged 6 to 59 months in liberia: A Multi-Level analysis using the 2019 Liberia demographic health survey (LDHS) data

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. 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. 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). 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.