Joint Modelling Application to Identify Key Determinants of Malnutrition and Anemia in Five West African Countries

Objectives

In Sub-Saharan Africa, anemia significantly contributes to infant mortality and morbidity, particularly among children affected by malnutrition. Given the intertwined nature of these conditions, separate modeling approaches are insufficient for capturing their combined effects. Joint modeling is essential to concurrently analyze anemia and malnutrition, enabling more accurate parameter estimation and a comprehensive understanding of shared risk factors. This study investigates determinants of both conditions across select West African countries, including Gabon, Gambia, Liberia, Mauritania, and Nigeria, with the aim of guiding policy measures to reduce prevalence. A novel aspect of this research is the joint modeling framework developed to analyze anemia and malnutrition together, an approach that remains limited in existing literature. By incorporating data from multiple countries, this study provides a unique and regionally contextualized perspective, addressing critical gaps in policy-relevant research.