Abstract:
This report documents trends in key child
nutrition indicators in Rwanda. Data from the
Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 2005,
2010, and 2014-15 were analyzed,
disaggregated by selected equity-related
variables, and tested for trends. Over the
survey period, Rwanda had high rates of
exclusive breastfeeding, with regional
variation. Rates of continued breastfeeding
were also high but generally decreased as
mother’s education and household wealth
increased in all survey years. Complementary
feeding practices varied by region, mother’s
education, household wealth, urban-rural
residence, and sex of the child. Generally,
consumption of vitamin A-rich foods was high
but consumption of iron-rich foods was low,
with differences by household wealth.
Consumption of iron-rich foods also varied by
region, urban-rural residence, and mother’s
education. There were substantial differences
in the prevalence of stunting by urban-rural
residence, region, and household wealth, and
between boys and girls. These findings
suggest that strategies are warranted to
increase the prevalence of optimal
breastfeeding in urban areas and among the
wealthier and more educated. Urgent efforts
to improve appropriate complementary feeding
practices are needed, and these practices
should be monitored by socioeconomic
characteristics, residential status, and
region in order to focus on groups and areas
most in need. Strategies to improve
complementary feeding practices among rural
residents, poor households, and mothers with
less education should be tested, along with
specific regional strategies.