జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ న్యూట్రిషనల్ డిజార్డర్స్ & థెరపీ

నైరూప్య

Prevalence of Chronic Malnutrition (Stunting) and Determinant Factors among Children Aged 0-23 Months in Western Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Tsedeke Wolde, Emiru Adeba and Alemu Sufa

Introduction: Poor growth especially stunting is associated with impaired development which is apparent in the relationship between growth status and school performance and intellectual achievement. Thus, previous studies in Western Ethiopia were not addressed factors associated with stunting.
Objective: To assess prevalence and determinants of stunting among less than 24 months children in East Wollega Zone, West Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study design using two-stage cluster sampling survey was conducted on 593 households from April to May, 2014 in three randomly selected districts of East Wollega Zone to assess factors associated with stunting. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic and socio economics characteristics, feeding practices, dietary diversity and anthropometric measurement of children aged less than two years. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fit to identify significant predictors of stunting at P<0.05.
Results: Prevalence of stunting and severe stunting were 15.7% (95% CI: 12.7-18.7) and 0.3% (95%CI: 0.1-0.5) for children aged <24months. Stunting was associated with illiterate mothers (AOR = 3.84; 95% CI 1.49-9.91) and nonexclusive breast feeding (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI 1.19-7.79). Children who consumed vegetables and fruits (AOR = 0.51; 95%CI 0.28-0.95) and boiling drinking water (AOR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39 - 0.97) were significantly reduced odds of being stunted.
Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence rate of stunting in the study area was found low. Stunting was significantly associated with the illiterate mothers and non-exclusive breastfeeding practice. Thus, an organized effort should be made at all levels to improve maternal education and exclusive breastfeeding practice of the poor rural population particularly mothers