PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF UNDERNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS IN RURAL AND AGRO-PASTORAL DEMBEL DISTRICT IN SOMALI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

undernutrition is not only the major cause of illness and death among under-five children but also leads to physical and mental impairment both in the early and late stage of life.Ethiopia is a country with remarkable progress in reducing under-five mortality. On the other hand, currently undernutrition among children is a common health problem in the country. Though, there are lots of studies done, there is a limited data concerning the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among children in this study area. Objective: - To assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months. Methods: - A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 530 households with infant/child-mother pairs. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants. Pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and anthropometric data were collected by measuring the weight, length/height of children to the nearest 0.1 centimeter. Nutritional indices was calculated using World Health Organization Anthros version 3.2.2 software and Statistical package for social science version 24 software was used for data analysis. The Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between each independent variable and dependent variable. Odd Ratios along with 95% Confidence intervals were estimated to identify factors associated with the outcome variable using multivariable logistic regression and then the level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. Result: - The prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight were 27% (95% CI: 23.6%, 31.2%), 27.6 % (95% CI: 23.8%, 31.4%) and 30.3 % (95% CI: 26.1%, 34.0%), respectively. Children from low (<750 ETB) income family (AOR = 2.28, 95 % CI (1.39, 3.71), those who lived in households with two and more under five (AOR=1.66, 95% CI: (1.02, 2.69), being female (AOR=2.24, 95% CI: (1.41, 3.56) were more stunted than their counter parts. The xiii likelihood of wasting was decreased among children who start complementary feeding at 6 months of age (AOR =0.36, 95% CI: (0.16, 0.81) compared to its counters and Having diarrhea attack (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: (1.09, 4.61)in the past two weeks had increased risk of wastingthan the counterpart. Children who did not meet minimum dietary diversity practice (4 food groups) (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI: (1.18, 7.62)had increased risk of underweight. All three forms of undernutrition were more likely observed in children from severely food insecured households. Conclusion: - The finding in this study showed high prevalenceof undernutrition among children in the study setting. Lack of maternal education, increased child age, low family income, household food insecurity,low dietary diversity, not initiating complementary feeding at 6 months of age, late initiation andduration breast feeding and having diarrheawere significantly associated with undernutrition. Thus, efforts should be made to improve these associated factors among different multi-sectors and stake holders to decrease child undernutrition.