Underweight and Predictors Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in South Ethiopia
Temesgen Mohammed Toma1,2, Kassahun Tamene Andargie1, Rahel Abera Alula1
1Department of Public Health, Arba Minch College of Health Sciences, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Insights
Underweight affects nearly 30% of children under five in South Ethiopia. Key factors include food insecurity, poor diet diversity, short birth intervals, and common childhood illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Underweight remains a critical public health challenge for children under five in Ethiopia.
- Despite existing nutrition interventions, prevalence remains high, necessitating further investigation into contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of underweight among children aged 6-59 months in South Ethiopia.
- To identify factors associated with underweight in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 717 children aged 6-59 months in South Ari district.
- Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis involved binary and multivariable logistic regression.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of underweight was 29.7% (95% CI: 26.5%, 33.2%).
- Factors associated with underweight included younger child age (6-23 months), food insecurity, suboptimal dietary diversity, short birth intervals (<24 months), and common childhood illnesses.
Conclusions:
- Household food insecurity, suboptimal dietary diversity, and common childhood illnesses are significant predictors of underweight in children.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing food security and managing childhood illnesses to combat underweight.
Objectives:
Underweight remains the primary public health concern among under-five-year-old children in Ethiopia, despite numerous government-implemented nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess underweight and associated factors among children in South Ethiopia.
Methods:
Between March and April 2021, 717 children in the South Ari district who were between the ages of 6 and 59 months participated in a cross-sectional study. To choose a sample of households containing a minimum of one child between the ages of 6 and 59 months, a multi-stage sampling procedure was used. Data were collected by interviewer-administered structured questionnaires from the mothers of the children. To determine the factors associated with being underweight, a binary logistic regression analysis was built. All variables with a p-value <0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis. To assess the strength of the association, an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used. With a p-value below 0.05, statistical significance was declared.
Results:
The prevalence of underweight was determined to be 29.7% (95% CI: 26.5%, 33.2%). Child age 6-23 months [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 0.44], food insecurity (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.10), sub-optimal child dietary diversity (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.03), birth interval <24 months (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.75, 3.54), and common childhood illness (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.52, 3.21) were associated with being underweight.
Conclusion:
Underweight among children is predicted by household food insecurity, suboptimal dietary diversity, and common childhood illnesses, necessitating further efforts to improve food security and manage common illnesses.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:52Regression Toward the Mean