Abstract: Background: Child malnutrition is a major public health problem in Zimbabwe and it has been one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age in the City of Harare.

Methods: An analytic cross sectional survey was conducted on 342 mothers – child pairs of children aged 0 – 59 months in Harare’s suburbs between July and August 2014.The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the high levels of stunting among children age 0 – 59 months. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to establish the risk factors for U5 years stunting.

Findings: A total of 29.2% of the children were stunted with (19.3% being moderately stunted and 9.9% severely stunted). More females (32.9%) were stunted compared to (25.9%) males. The main contributing factors for stunting among the children 0 - 59 months were found to be lack of mother’s education adjusted pOR=0.49 (95%CI: 1.04-3.27); being unemployed pOR=1.22 (95%CI: 1.08-2.03); residing in high density suburbs pOR=2.14 (95%CI: 1.61-7.55); child ever being hospitalized pOR=1.04 (95%CI: 1.01-2.14); breastfed after > 1 hour after birth pOR=1.11 (95%CI: 1.09-1.80); complementary feeds < 6 months pOR=1.30 (95%CI: 1.17-2.21); low birth weight pOR=1.46 (95%CI: 1.29-3.51) and having a poor dietary diversity pOR=1.07 (95%CI: 1.01-1.84).

Conclusions: Lack of mother’s education is the principal risk factor for stunting among the under five children in Harare exacerbated by unemployment of either the father or mother or relative, area of residence, feeding practices, birth weight, illness and infections and household dietary diversity.

Stunting is on the increase in Harare. The findings also revealed a high level of in-equalities in social determinants of health since stunting is related to socio-economic factors.

Recommendations: Any nutrition intervention has to use strategies that will comprehensively address the social determinants of health and improve the standard of living of households in the high density areas so as to have a ripple effect on the nutritional status of U5s.

Keywords: Stunting, mother-child pair, risk factors, social determinants of health.

Abstract:Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in physical activity (PA) are evident, with non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American children engaging in less vigorous activity than non-Hispanic White children. Collaborating with public health programs serving at-risk populations, such as the WIC program may be an effective way to promote the development of healthful PA behaviors among low-income preschool children and families. This paper explores WIC staff perceptions, attitudes, barriers, and facilitators related to PA levels and behaviors among low-income Latino preschool children and families, as well as the role the WIC program may play in promoting PA among low-income populations.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a sample of WIC staff in the State of Rhode Island (RI), Northeast United States. Individual, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 21 WIC staff working directly with Latino clients enrolled in the WIC program. Thematic content analysis was used.

Results: The majority of WIC staff reported their Latino clients facing many barriers that limit their ability to be physically active, including busy and multiple shift schedules, lack of access to safe outdoor spaces, financial constraints to attending programs and recreational facilities, lack of transportation getting to safe outdoor spaces and facilities, etc. WIC staff identified several ways that the WIC program could increase the promotion PA among Latino families including partnering with local organizations such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club to provide increased access and opportunities for PA among low-income, Latino families.

Conclusions: Study findings add to the existing literature suggesting that the WIC program is an important venue for educating low-income, Latino children and families about the importance of establishing early healthy PA habits within the context of overall health and development. Findings also highlight the need for a continuing effort to integrate the promotion of PA as part of the WIC program. In addition, findings highlight WIC staff desire for additional training and resources in promotion of PA.

Keywords: Physical activity, sedentary behaviors, Latino, children, WIC program.