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Updated: Sep 20, 2025

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Determinants of wasting among children aged 6-59 months in Wonago woreda, south Ethiopia. A facility-based unmatched

Endashaw Habtamu1, Desalegn Chilo2, Defaru Desalegn3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.

Plos One
|June 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Childhood wasting in Ethiopia is linked to maternal education, family size, wealth, and infant feeding practices. Interventions should empower women and improve infant care knowledge to reduce this malnutrition burden.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Childhood wasting affects 52 million children globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing a significant burden.
  • Ethiopia faces a high prevalence of wasting, particularly in the Gedeo zone, despite progress in other malnutrition forms.
  • Wasting remains a critical public health issue for under-five children in Ethiopia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the key determinants of wasting in children aged 6-59 months.
  • To inform targeted interventions for reducing childhood wasting in Wonago Woreda, Ethiopia.

Main Methods:

  • A facility-based, unmatched case-control study was conducted in Wonago Woreda.
  • Data collected from 356 mothers/caregivers using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements.
  • Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify significant determinants.

Main Results:

  • Maternal illiteracy (AOR=2.48), low wealth index (AOR=2.41), and inadequate exclusive breastfeeding (AOR=2.71) were associated with increased wasting.
  • Limited dietary diversity (AOR=5.52) and recent child illness (AOR=4.36) significantly increased wasting risk.
  • Smaller family size (<3 children, AOR=0.16) was associated with a reduced risk of wasting.

Conclusions:

  • Key determinants of childhood wasting include maternal education, family size, wealth, infant feeding practices, dietary diversity, and child morbidity.
  • Empowering women and enhancing parental knowledge on infant/young child care are crucial for combating childhood wasting.
  • Targeted public health strategies addressing these determinants are essential for reducing wasting prevalence in Ethiopia.
Abstract

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