Abstract:
Back ground: Wasting or acute malnutrition is one forms of under nutrition that is threatening
life and resulted from hunger and/or disease; it continued to threaten the lives of an estimated 6.7
percent or 45.4 million. In Ethiopia 7% of under five children still experiencing wasting, and 1%
are severely wasted (below -3 SD). However, studies conducted on determinants of wasting is
lacking consistency in a country including in the current study area. This study was therefore,
aimed to identify determinants of wasting one of the communities where wasting is highly
prevalent.
Objectives: To assess the determinants of wasting among children aged 6-59 months in Doba
Woreda, West Hararghe, Oromia, Ethiopia December 15-30, 2022
Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 303 of the
children aged 6–59 months from December 15 to 30, 2022 in Doba Woreda West Hararghe
Oromia Ethiopia. The systematic random sampling method was used to select the study
participant. The data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometry was taken for all children. Binary logistic
regression analysis was used and odds ratio along with a 95 % confidence interval was estimate
to identify determinants of wasting. The level of statistical significance was declared at p-value <
0.05.
Results:
The current study revealed that, being on early age 6-23 months (AOR=3.46;95%CI:1.24,9.63) a
nd mother with no formal education (AOR=4.39;95%CI:1.67,11.58), diarrheal during first two w
eeks (AOR=7.69;95%CI:3.3,17.9) and not exclusive breast feed (AOR=3.69;95%CI:1.35,11.20)
were significantly associated with wasting.
Conclusion: Age of child, mother with no formal educational, child with no exclusive breast
feeding and diarrheal during first two weeks were significantly associated with wasting.
