Correlates of undernutrition of children (Aged 5–14 Years) in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Undernutrition continues to contribute substantially to childhood morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia, as elsewhere. In Ethiopia, most studies unraveling the correlates of risk are based on school-based anthropometric surveys of wasting and stunting. Therefore, this study aimed to determine prevalence of undernutrition and detail associated factors among children aged 5–14 years from a population-representative sample of households in the Haramaya District Demographic and Health Surveillance site, Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected June 30th to July 15th, 2020. A detailed community-based cross sectional survey was conducted among 822 randomly selected children aged 5–14 years, including interviews with mothers/guardians and measurements of children. Wasting and stunting status of children was assessed via anthropometric measurements and WHO Anthro Survey Analyzer was used to analyze Z-score. Multivariable binary logistic regression model was fitted including an array of contextual variables, including highly local considerations such as khat (chat) use. Variables with a p-value<0.05 were declared significant factors associated under-nutrition. The prevalence of stunting and thinness was found to be 22.4% [(95% CI: 19.7, 25.5] and 11.9% [(95% CI: 9.8, 14.3], respectively. Parents Kchat chewing is associated with acute malnutrition (wasting) (AOR (1.43(1.19, 2.97). but not chronic malnutrition (stunting). Children being from poor households [AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.42], family size greater than three [AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.60], and dietary diversity score three or less food groups [AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.13] were significantly associated with stunting. While being in age range of 13–14 [AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.13, 4.47], family size of 4 and above [AOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.34, 5.03] and dietary diversity score three or less food groups [AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.17, 3.04] were significantly associated with thinness. The finding of this study showed that there was high prevalence of stunting and thinness among children aged from 5 to 14 years old in Haramaya district. Therefore, all stakeholders should need to strengthen nutritional counseling of family and sensitization of family planning program. • Parents Kchat chewing is associated with acute malnutrition (wasting) but not chronic malnutrition (stunting). • The finding of this study showed that there was high prevalence of stunting and thinness. • Increase family size and poor dietary diversity is related with both thinness and stunting.