WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: COMPARISION OF CHILD UNDERNUTRITION AGED 6-59 MONTHS AND ITS PERCIEVED CONTRIBUTON IN CHIRO TOWN, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA: A MIXED STUDY METHOD

Abstract

Background: Women's empowerment is a recognized determinant of child nutrition, yet the specific pathways through which it influences nutritional outcomes remain unclear. Cultural and religious factors influence empowerment levels, making finding from other locations difficult to generalize. Objective: This study aimed to assess women Empowerment and Child undernutrition aged 6 59 Months and its perceived contribution in Chiro Town, Oromia region Ethiopia: Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional with Quantitative and a Phenomenological with qualitative study, was conducted. A total of 400 mother-child pairs (132 empowered and 268 non-empowered women) were selected. Using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were collected via structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and dietary assessments. Qualitative data were gathered through FGD and KII. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression using SPSS, with qualitative data analyzed thematically. Results: Result: Study revealed that there was a high burden of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 31.25% 24.75% and 16% respectively. Children of non-empowered women had higher rates of stunting (33.96% vs 25.76%) underweight (25.76% vs 16.67%) and wasting (17.16 vs 13.64). Empowered women had higher rate of health facility delivery (84.85% vs 64.18%) and better latrine availability (59.8% vs 40.9). Empowered household exhibited significantly higher dilatory diversity (90.91% vs 51.49%) and consumption of ASF (59.85% vs 24.25%). Finding demonstrate that women’s empowerment is significantly associated with improved nutritional outcome of children. Conclusion and Recommendation: While optimal nutrition is predominant, children of non empowered mothers face a slightly higher risk of under-nutrition. Maternal empowerment through decision-making, economic agency and education is pivotal for improving child nutrition.