Undernutrition and determinants among adolescent street children in DireDawa City, eastern Ethiopia: Vulnerability assessment

Abstract

ObjectivesAdolescents go through rapid development and increased nutritional requirements that can put them at higher risk of undernutrition--a problem that can be highest among orphaned or street children. Evidence on nutritional risk and its contributing factors among this segment is lacking in the city of Dire Dawa, where many children are on the streets with limited access to proper care. The aim of this study was to identify determinants of undernutrition among street adolescents in Ethiopia. MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 358 street adolescents 12 to 19 y of age in Dire Dawa from January to February 2022. After conducting a preliminary survey and registering all available street children, a complete enumeration was made. For data collection, an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used along with anthropometric measurements using standard procedures. Height-for-age (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI) for age z scores were computed using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthroplus and statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 26. Independent variables with P < 0.25 in bivariable analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression, and variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. ResultsAmong 358 street adolescents, 44% (38.9–49.5) and 56% (50.8–61.4) were thin and stunted, respectively. Thinness among street children could be associated with a longer stay on the street (AOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.40–1.90), infrequent meal frequency (AOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.19–1.45), unprotected drinking water sources (AOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.40–1.71), alcohol drinking (AOR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.51–4.32), inadequately diversified diet (AOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06–1.36), and illness history (AOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.21–1.47). Moreover, odds of stunting were significantly associated with staying on the street (AOR, 1.32; 1.10–1.54), unsafe drinking water (AOR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.13–2.66), smoking cigarettes (AOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.21–2.52), dietary diversity (AOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.43–3.82), and acute illness (AOR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.31–5.23). ConclusionThinness and stunting were prevalent among street children and are associated with infrequent meals, poor dietary diversity, substance abuse, unsafe water sources, and illness histories that could be targeted for multisectoral interventions.