STUNTING AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN 6—59 MONTHS OF AGE IN JARDAGA JARTE WOREDA, HORO GUDURU WOLLEGA, WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Stunting is an indicator of chronic under nutrition that results from lack of adequate dietary intake over a long period of time.There are shortages of information on magnitude of stunting and associated factors among children 6-59 months of age in Ethiopia, and particularly Jardega Jarte Woreda. Objectives: To assess prevalence of stunting and associated factors among children 6-59 months of age living in the Jardega Jarte District, Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Western Oromia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study design was conducted among a random sample of 632 children aged 6-59 months and their mothers/care givers.Simple random sampling technique to select kebeles from the stratified ones, systematic random sampling to select study population was used. Anthropometric measurements (height) of children were obtained and nutritional status of children was analyzed by World Health Organization Anthros version 3.1.0. Descriptive statistics was used to determine prevalence and identify factors associated with stunting in children 6-59 months of age. Odds ratio along with 95%CI analysis was used to test the association between independent and dependent variable.Multicollinearity was checked by using standard error and variables with standard error>2 was excluded from analysis of final logistic regression model. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. RESULT: Finding of this study showed that the prevalence of stunting among children 6-59 months of age was found to be 39.2%; 95%CI: (35.1%, 43%). Households who depend on market as a source of food [AOR=2.49; 95%CI: (1.35, 4.58)], disposing wastes on the open field [AOR=3.03; 95%CI:(1.52,6.05)], initiating complementary feeding at age of less than 6 months and food in-secured household [AOR= 5.90; 95%CI:(4.05, 8.60)] were significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion: The finding of the study showed that Stunting is found to be high. Household depending on market as a source of food, disposing wastes on the open field, initiating complementary feeding at age of less than 6 months, having no access of mass media, breast feeding less than 24 months, consumed extra meal during pregnancy and lactating & food in-secured household were significantly associated with stunting.