Spatial Modeling of Child Malnutrition and Farming Methods in Rural Sub-Sahara Africa

Food security in rural sub-Saharan Africa is dependent on crop yields grown on subsistence rainfed farms. Yields for rain-fed farms in Africa are often affected by the high variability in precipitation during the growing season. Low crop yields in many communities in developing regions affect the physical and mental growth of children by reducing their caloric intake. Water harvesting farms provide a way to capture water for agricultural purposes and increase crop yield. This study aimed to determine whether the prevalence of water harvesting farm techniques is spatially correlated with malnutrition. Multilevel regression models at the within-household and geographic levels were used to evaluate the correlation between water harvesting farms and stunting, a measurement of malnutrition, among children aged 1 to 5 years. The results suggest that the use of water harvesting farm methods is correlated with stunting and offers the potential to reduce malnutrition in rural subsistence farming communities in Africa.