Prevalence of Undernutrition and Associated Factors among Children Aged 6- 59 Months in Bishoftu Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Malnutrition is decreasing during the two-decade but still in a major public health problem in the world especially in developing countries including Ethiopia. The study was aimed to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among children of aged 6 months - 59 months of Bishoftu town, Oromia region. Community based cross-sectional design was employed in the randomly selected five kebele. The sample size was determined by using single population proportion formula then adjusted by finite population correction factor to draw the final 410 sample children and then allocated proportionally to each Kebele in the town. The survey was conducted using standard procedures developed questionnaires with experienced enumerators. Anthropometric measurement was used to collect height, weight and MUAC following the standard measurement tools and procedures. Information was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and anthropometric measurements were converted into Z scores by WHO Anthro version 3.2.2., 2011 software. Then exported to STATA 13 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The result revealed that the prevalence of overall malnutrition was (46.1%); specifically, stunting was (16.1%), underweight (22.6%) and wasting (7.4%). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze prevalence of child malnutrition. The result of multivariate model revealed that Family size, Birth interval, Child age and Frequency of breast feed as significant determinants for wasting. While for stunting, family size, level of mother’s education, birth order, currently breast feeding, exclusive breast feeding and monthly income were found as statistically significant (p<0.05) determinants of child malnutrition. Additionally, age of child and household who hadn’t got advice and visited by health extension workers were more than five as likely to be underweight compared to those who are frequently advised? Thus, the studied households need continues training, awareness creation activities, special attention for child and maternal healthcare services by the Health Office and other practitioners in different income generating activities to improve child nutrition.