Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Ethiopia's high childhood undernutrition explained: analysis of the prevalence and key correlates based on recent

Tafere Gebreegziabher1, Nigatu Regassa2

  • 11Food Science and Nutrition,Department of Health Sciences,Central Washington University,400 E University Way,Ellensburg,WA98926,USA.

Public Health Nutrition
|March 22, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia is influenced by child, maternal, and household factors. Interventions focusing on maternal education and health services during the first 1000 days are crucial for prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Childhood undernutrition, encompassing stunting, wasting, and underweight, remains a significant public health challenge in Ethiopia.
  • Identifying key contributing factors is essential for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the roles of child, maternal, and household characteristics in childhood undernutrition among children under five years in Ethiopia.
  • To differentiate influencing factors between younger (0-24 months) and older (25-59 months) age groups.

Main Methods:

  • A quantitative, cross-sectional study design utilizing nationally representative data from urban and rural Ethiopia.
  • Analysis included a total of 9696 children, divided into younger (n=4199) and older (n=5497) age cohorts.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight varied by age group, with higher stunting rates in older children.
  • Factors associated with reduced undernutrition included female sex, micronutrient intake, piped water, high maternal BMI, wealth, and education.
  • Risk factors for undernutrition included anemia, low birth weight, bottle feeding, and mothers who were stunted, wasted, or working. Child factors were more influential in younger children.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia is multifactorial, influenced by a complex interplay of child, maternal, and household determinants.
  • Effective interventions should target the critical first 1000 days, emphasizing maternal education, enhanced maternal and child health services, improved maternal nutrition, and equitable intra-household food distribution.
Abstract

Keywords:
EthiopiaRisk factorsStuntingUndernutritionUnderweightWasting

More Related Videos

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is: