Maternal/household characteristics and child stunting in Ethiopia: A secondary analysis of the 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

Characteristics related to child (<60 months, n=9,892) stunting and underweight were examined using data from the nationally representative 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. Stunting (height‐for‐age Z < −2) and underweight (weight‐for‐age Z < −2) were categorized using World Health Organization standards. Both stunting and underweight were significantly associated with maternal education, BMI, residence and wealth. Children of underweight mothers (BMI < 18.5) were significantly more likely [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.16] to be stunted than children of mothers with normal BMI. Furthermore, mothers with no formal education [AOR=1.67] and mothers with primary education [AOR=1.52] were significantly more likely to have a stunted child than mothers with secondary or tertiary education. Rural children were more likely than urban to be stunted [AOR=1.34], and children from the lowest wealth category were more likely to be stunted than those from the highest wealth category [AOR=1.57]. Likewise for underweight, mothers with no education were more likely to have an underweight child [AOR= 2.05] compared to mothers who had more than primary education. Children from the lowest wealth category were nearly twice as likely [AOR=2.04] to be underweight compared to children from the highest category. Maternal and household characteristics remain important predictors of child nutritional status in Ethiopia. (Supported by Oklahoma State University)