Underweight prevalence among preschool children in Africa has been studied,
but the effects of culture and geography remain unclear. This study used the 2008
Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data for 2244 children aged 0-59 months and
generalized linear mixed models to analyze these data. The results showed that culture
and geography remained significantly associated with preschool underweight prevalence
after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of children, mothers,
and households. Additionally, the gender of a child, size at birth, fever status,
mother’s BMI, insurance coverage and number of children <5 years in the household
were significantly associated with underweight prevalence in Ghana. The study concluded
that in addition to specific characteristics of children, mothers, and households,
culturally motivated childhood dietary restrictions among the Ga/Dangme and Ewe
could be reduced through appropriately targeted nutritional messages. Additionally,
decreasing North-South disparities in socioeconomic development, and improving nutritional
outcomes among disadvantaged households in southern Ghana should be the
focus of policies and strategies directed at reducing preschool underweight prevalence in
Ghana.