IMPACTS OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON NUTRITION OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE IN SELECTED RURAL KEBELES: THE CASE OF CHIRO WOREDA, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Climate variability is among the major environmental challenges of the 21st century. Temporal and spatial rainfall and temperature variation during different season induces an important challenge to Nutrition of Children Under 5 Years of Age. This paper intends to assess Impacts of Climate Variability on Nutrition of Children Under 5 Years of Age in Chiro Woreda. Both Primary and secondary data were used. Station data of Temperature and rainfall for the period of 1989 - 2018 were used for analysis. Secondary data was used to see the temporal pattern of temperature and rainfall with the nutrition status of children under 5 years of age. Beka Bilu, Yabido Bobassa, and Yabdio Gojala, Saro, and Sholla were sample Kebeles covered in Chiro Woreda by the researcher. A total of 352HHs sample sizes was used from the total of 4220HHs in all selected Kebeles. .. The researcher runs the Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator trend detection. The Mann-Kendall test was employed to determine the existence of time series trend analysis of temperature and rainfall. Correlation coefficient and binary logistic analyses were performed to determine the relationship between climate variabilities and children < 5 years of age nutrition status using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).The result of the study shows that the variation in rainfall and temperature affects the economic source of the HH and this will directly affect the nutrition of the household members. Further, the study revealed that individual education status affects the nutrition intake of the family in the HH. The education of parents has a direct relationship with nutrition in the HH. The study identified that Chiro Woreda has been receiving the average minimum temperature during December, January, and February Months of the year. On the other hand, the highest amount of rainfall 665.6 mm was registered in the summer season and the lowest amount of rainfall was 128.7 mm in winter. The researcher identified that there is a trend analysis in the climate variabilities in the past 30 years. Statistically significant correlation between rainfall and children’s nutrition status was identified in the research.. Finally, the researcher identified that for 1-millimeter change in annual rainfall in Chiro Woreda, the nutrition status of children < 5 years of age is increased by 0.224. For 1 OC change in maximum temperature in Chiro Woreda, the nutrition status of children < 5 years of age is decreased by 0.1022, and for 1 OC change in minimum temperature in Chiro Woreda, the nutrition status of children < 5 years of age is increased by 0.1893.Since there is the strong irregularity of rainfall in Chiro Woreda and climate variability has negative effects on the nutrition of children under 5 years of age in Chiro Woreda., there is a need to frame comprehensive policies and strategies that specifically address the effects of climate variability and enhance mitigation mechanisms.