Spatiotemporal Trends in Stunting Prevalence Among Children Aged Two Years Old in Rwanda (2020–2024): A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Stunting remains a critical public health concern affecting child growth and development, particularly among children under two years of age in low- and middle-income countries, including Rwanda. This study investigates spatiotemporal trends in stunting prevalence from 2020 to 2024 at the sector level using national surveillance data. <b>Methods:</b> To capture regional disparities and temporal trends, we used hierarchical Bayesian spatiotemporal models, which accounted for spatial structure, temporal correlations, and interactions, to estimate stunting prevalence across districts and sectors over time. <b>Results:</b> Between 2020 and 2024, the national prevalence of stunting among children under two years decreased from 33.1% to 21.7%, representing a 34.4% change. Three districts, Kamonyi, Nyarugenge, and Ngoma, achieved reductions of >70%, whereas Rubavu, Nyabihu, and Nyaruguru saw minimal change (14-15%). By 2024, several sectors in Kicukiro, Nyanza, Nyarugenge, and Kirehe had reduced levels of stunting below the national target of 19%. <b>Conclusions:</b> Despite considerable gains, significant geographical differences persist in the stunting prevalence of children under two, underscoring the need for targeted, decentralized interventions to mitigate and eliminate this in lagging areas.