Determinant factors for undernutrition among under five children in Ethiopia: A retrospective study

Details

Supervisors

Guha-Sapir, Debarati

Faculty

Faculté de santé publique

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de la santé publique

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Undernutrition is caused by multiple interrelated determinant factors. The objective of this study was to estimate undernutrition and determinant factors among children under five years in Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by using 9696 children under five years from Ethiopia demographic and health survey 2016 data. The measured value of weight and height of children was converted into Z-scores. Children having Z score less than (-2) height-for-age, weight for age and weight for height were classified as stunted, underweight, and wasted respectively. The Z score continuous variables were transformed to categorical variables to compute logistic regression. The chi - square test was applied to have seen the association between stunting and explanatory variables. Multiple logistic regression was computed to estimate explanatory variables having an effect on the nutritional status of children. For statistical significance, P-value < 0.05, 95% CI and odd ratio (OR) were considered. Analysis was done using R packages and SPSS, version 24. The results: There was no association between distances from the border and child's nutritional status (height for age Z score: P =0.25; weight for height Z score: P=0.82; and weight for age Z score: P=0.28). Stunting was highly prevalent in Amhara region (46%) whereas wasting was highly prevalent in Somali region (23%) in Ethiopia. Rural children were less nourished than urban children, which were stunted 39%, wasted 10% and underweight 24% of rural children, whereas for urban children, stunted 25%, wasted 8% and underweight 13%. Education of mother (P value=2.2e-16), nutrition status of mothers (P=2.2e-16), the wealth index of the households (P=2.2e-16), employment status of mothers (P<0.05), place of residence (P=0.02), the size of the child at birth (P value=2.2e-16), age of the child (P value=2.2e-16), birth intervals (2.2e-16) and breastfeeding (P=0.005), were determinant factors for the stunting of children. Conclusions: Undernutrition was the main problem affecting children’s health in Ethiopia. The borders had not impact on undernourishment of children. Wealth index, region and place of residence, age of the child, the size of the child at birth, nutrition and employment status of the mothers, birth interval of the child, and breastfeeding status of the child were the determinant factors.