Table 7 Pooled analysis of the association between asymptomatic malaria infection and nutritional status across three DHS Surveys (2010, 2014–15, 2019–20) (N = 10,411)

Total

140/10409

1.34

Age (months)

 6–23 months

31/3548

0.87

1

1

 24–59 months

107/6700

1.60

1.84 (1.23–2.75)

2.72 (1.78–4.16)

Year

 2010

41/3737

1.10

1

1

 2015

68/3237

2.10

1.93 (1.31–2.85)

197 (1.31–2.96)

 2020

31/3435

0.90

0.82 (0.51–1.31)

1.01 (0.62–1.64)

Region

 Kigali

3/1145

0.26

1

1

 South

57/2563

2.22

8.66 (2.71–27.7)

4.01 (1.17–13,75)

 West

22/2581

0.85

3.27 (0.98–10.96)

1.55 (0.43–5.52)

 North

1/1600

0.06

0.24 (0.02–2.29)

0.13 (0.01–1.34)

 East

57/2520

2.26

8.81 (2.75–28.19)

4.68 (1.37–16.02)

Residence

 Urban

11/1891

0.58

1

1

 Rural

129/8518

1.51

2.63 (1.42–4.87)

1.04(0.53–2.04)

Mother Education

 No education

35/1585

2.21

1

1

 Primary

95/7263

1.31

0.59 (0.39–0.87)

0.76 (0.49–1.14)

 Sec + High

10/1561

0.64

0.29 (0.14–0.58)

0.65 (0.29–1.46)

Sex

 Male

74/5291

1.40

1

1

 Female

66/5118

1.29

0.92 (0.66–1.29)

0.99(0.70–1.42)

Anaemia

 Not Anaemic

28/6550

0.43

1

1

 Anaemic

112/3840

2.92

6.99 (4.62–10.61)

7.34 (4.79- 11.27)

Wealth index

 Poor

103/4657

2.21

1

1

 Rich

37/5752

0.64

0.29(0.19–0.42)

0.38 (0.24–0.58)

Stunting(height/age)

 Normal

61/6108

1.00

1

1

 Stunted

77/4209

1.83

1.85 (1.32–2.59)

1.15 (0.77–1.71)

Underweight

 Normal

109/9313

1.17

1

1

 Underweight

29/1006

2.88

2.51 (1.66–3.79)

1.59 (1.14–2.95)

Wasting

 Normal

136/10120

1.34

1

1

 Wasted

2/198

1.01

0.75 (0.18–3.05)

0.49 (0.11–2.09)

Salt Iodine

 No iodine

13/525

2.48

1

1

 Iodine present

96/6442

1.49

0.59 (0.33–1.07)

0.66 (0.35–1.24)