Statistical modelling of determinants of child stunting using secondary data and Bayesian networks: a UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper

Introduction Several factors have been implicated in child stunting, but the precise determinants, mechanisms of action and causal pathways remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to explore causal relationships between the various determinants of child stunting.Methods and analysis The study will use data compiled from national health surveys in India, Indonesia and Senegal, and reviews of published evidence on determinants of child stunting. The data will be analysed using a causal Bayesian network (BN)-an approach suitable for modelling interdependent networks of causal relationships. The model's structure will be defined in a directed acyclic graph and illustrate causal relationship between the variables (determinants) and outcome (child stunting). Conditional probability distributions will be generated to show the strength of direct causality between variables and outcome. BN will provide evidence of the causal role of the various determinants of child stunning, identify evidence gaps and support in-depth interrogation of the evidence base. Furthermore, the method will support integration of expert opinion/assumptions, allowing for inclusion of the many factors implicated in child stunting. The development of the BN model and its outputs will represent an ideal opportunity for transdisciplinary research on the determinants of stunting.Ethics and dissemination Not applicable/no human participants included.