Child malnutrition in North East Region of Ghana: Magnitude, Determinants and Socioeconomic Complexities

Child malnutrition is a complex disorder with long-term effects that can be traced to health outcomes, academic performance, and economic productivity. Although the problem is recognized globally, the burden of child malnutrition remains disproportionately high in Ghana. This study examined the magnitude, determinants, and socioeconomic complexities of child malnutrition in the North East Region of Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach, the study employed structured questionnaires to collect data from 1,347 mothers. The prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in the North East Region was 14.3%. Among these, 65.6%, 13.0%, and 21.4% were underweight, stunted, and wasted, respectively. The respondents’ age (χ² = 58.227, p < 0.001), marital status (χ² = 29.600, p < 0.001), number of children (χ² = 34.620, p < 0.001), educational level (χ² = 53.165, p < 0.001), and occupation (χ² = 40.953, p < 0.001) were socio-demographic characteristics that showed significant associations with the prevalence of malnutrition. Monthly income (Fisher’s exact test = 13.203, p < 0.001), frequency of financial difficulties (Fisher’s exact test = 127.503, p < 0.001), and type of financial support received (Fisher’s exact test = 13.119, p = 0.002) were economic factors significantly associated with the prevalence of malnutrition. The study also found significant associations between the prevalence of malnutrition and respondents’ ability to provide nutritious foods (Fisher’s exact test = 122.514, p < 0.001), frequency of purchasing or receiving protein-rich foods (Fisher’s exact test = 47.276, p < 0.001), percentage of household income spent on food (χ² = 22.828, p < 0.001), age at which children were introduced to solid foods (χ² = 108.727, p < 0.001), respondents’ knowledge of nutrition (χ² = 5.718, p = 0.020), family traditions related to nutrition (χ² = 100.978, p < 0.001), availability of food (χ² = 34.810, p < 0.001), and adherence to health professionals’ advice on child feeding and nutrition (χ² = 76.023, p < 0.001). These results highlight that both structural socioeconomic constraints and behavioural practices contribute substantially to the burden of malnutrition in the region. A comprehensive, multisectoral approach should be implemented that integrates nutrition education, economic empowerment, and improved access to diverse and nutritious foods, while strengthening health system support for optimal child feeding practices, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable households.