Abstract:
Background: Undernutrition is one of the major public health problems affecting children in
developing settings. Despite impressive interventions like PSNP, there is limited information
on the association between stunting and PSNP implementation in Ethiopia.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude of under-nutrition and its associated
factors among 6-59 months children from PSNP beneficiary and non-beneficiary households
in Gumbi Bordode district, Oromia region, Eastern Ethiopia from April 15 to May 15/2023
Methods: A comparative, cross sectional study conducted among systematically selected 598
children and their mothers/caretakers (299 from PSNP and 299 from non-PSNP households).
Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire. Measuring board used to
measure length/height of children and electronic weight scale used to measure weight of
children. Anthropometric measurements entered and calculated using ENA for SMART
software then transferred to SPSS version 26 to be processed and was analyze. Bivariate and
multivariable logistic regressions used to identify associated factors of under-nutrition at
significance level p-value < 0.05.
Results: Magnitude of stunting was 50.2% vs 41.8%, magnitude of underweight was 36.4%
vs 30.8%, and magnitude of wasting was 23.4% vs 20.1% among children from households
enrolled in PSNP and non-PSNP, respectively. Child’s age and sex, family size, consuming
additional meal during lactation, inclusion of women, and PSNP membership, had significant
association with child stunting. Child’s age, educational status of father, empowerment's of
women, place of childbirth, child bottle-feeding, and PSNP membership were found to be
significantly associated with child underweight. Educational status of mother, and father,
access to protected water, child bottle-feeding, and latrine usage had statistically significant
association with child wasting.
Conclusion: Magnitude of undernutrition was high among children from households enrolled
in PSNP. Under-nutrition was significantly associated with household, maternal and childrelated
factors.
Recommendation: Including women on their household’s issues, improving household’s
access to protected water, hygiene and sanitation, improving infant and young child feeding
practices could be reduce magnitude of under-nutrition and its adverse consequences
