Reduction Rates and Growth Metrics in Under-Five Children Fed Through School Feeding Programmes in Rural Madagascar

This study examines the impact of a school feeding programme on stunting reduction rates in under-five children living in rural Madagascar. A cross-sectional study design was employed, analysing data from a national database including anthropometric measurements and socio-economic indicators of over 10,000 under-five children enrolled in the school feeding programme in rural Madagascar during the period -. Findings indicate that there is a statistically significant reduction in stunting rates among children who regularly participated in the school feeding programme compared to those not participating. The adjusted odds ratio for stunting was found to be 0.75 (95% CI: 0.62-0.91). The school feeding programme appears to have a positive impact on reducing stunting among under-five children in rural Madagascar. Further studies should explore the long-term effects of the school feeding programme and its potential role in addressing child malnutrition. Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.