Multivariate Analysis of Correlates of Under Five Children Malnutrition in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Malnutrition is defined as deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Malnutrition among children under five years of age is a chronic problem in most regions of Ethiopia, including the Tigray region. The main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of under-five child malnutritions and the risk factors attributed to nutritional status of children in Tigray region based on Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, 2016 datasets. The information collected from 370 children was considered in the study, and variables like maternal socio and demographic characteristics, child demographic characteristics, health and environmental factors were considered as determinants of nutritional status of a child. The study used descriptive statistics and Multivariate multiple linear regression models to identify significant correlates of perinatal mortality. Factor analysis based on principal component analysis was done to reduce the data and components with Eigen value of more than one were considered for further investigation. The descriptive statistics in the study reveals that out of a total of 370 children included in the study 25.4% are underweighted, 30.8% are stunted and 17.3% are wasted. Accordingly of total children malnourished 5.9% are severely underweighted while 19.5% are moderately underweighted, about 12.7% are severely stunted and 18.1% moderately stunted and 6.5% are severely wasted and 10.8% are moderate wasted respectively. From Multivariate multiple linear regressions, breast feeding factors, socioeconomic status of households, health status of child, having medical treatments during pregnancy and child vaccination status have significant impacts on nutritional status of the under five children. The factors duration of breast feeding, number of household members, living children, birth order of a child, current age of child, place of residence, sanitation services like drinking water and availability of toilet, mother educational level and father education level, age of mother, economic level of household, receiving measles, polio and vitamin A in the last six months, and child health status indicators like having diarrhea recently, having fever and cough in the last two months had statistically significant effect on child malnutrition.