Nutritional status and its associated factors among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Science
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Malnutrition, encompassing undernutrition and overnutrition, poses a significant public health challenge in developing regions.
• Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of malnutrition on growth and development.
• Understanding the specific factors contributing to malnutrition in diverse populations is crucial for effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the nutritional status of infants and young children aged 6-23 months in Yeka sub-city, Ethiopia.
• To identify factors associated with both undernutrition and overnutrition in this vulnerable age group.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving child nutrition in the study area.

Main Methods:

• An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 396 infants and young children.
• Data were collected through structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements.
• Statistical analysis employed multinomial logistic regression to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• The study found that 24.7% of children were undernourished and 5.5% were overnourished.
• Key factors associated with undernutrition included low dietary diversity score (DDS) and minimum meal frequency (MMF).
• Diarrhoeal disease was also significantly associated with increased odds of undernutrition.

Conclusions:

• Malnutrition represents a substantial public health problem among infants and young children in Yeka sub-city, Ethiopia.
• Dietary diversity, meal frequency, and diarrhoeal disease are critical factors influencing nutritional status.
• Interventions targeting these factors are essential to combat malnutrition in this population.