Prevalence and Determinant Factors of Stunting, Wasting and Underweight Among School Age Children Aged 6-12 Years in Debre Tabor Town, South Gondar, Ethiopia (original) (raw)
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Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics
Background: Underweight, wasting, and stunting are the commonest nutritional disorders among children, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinant factors of underweight, wasting, and stunting among school-age children in 2019. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the five special districts of South Gondar Zone, among 314 school-age children. WHO AnthroPlus software was used to build Z-scores from anthropometric measurement. The data were analyzed by SPSS Version 20. The degrees of association were assessed using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval during multivariable logistic regression. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Of the total study participants, 232 (77.3%) were from public schools. The mean ±standard deviation (SD) of height of children was 132.9±9.8 cm, and the mean±SD weight of children was 27.7±5.8 kg. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was 11%, 6.3%, and 11.4%, respectively. Students who ate their breakfast rarely were 8-times more likely to be underweight than those who ate their breakfast always (AOR=7.9, 95% CI=4.8-14.8). Those who were sick in the past 2 weeks were more likely to be underweight than their counterparts (AOR=7.3, 95% CI=2.8-14.4). Those who never consume milk or milk products were 6.5 (AOR=6.5, 95% CI=1.7-23) times more likely to be stunted than those who consumed this always. Sickness in the past 2 weeks prior to data collection was significantly associated with thinness (AOR=6 0.9, 95% CI=4.1-10.1). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight was a mild public health problem in the study area.
BMC Nutrition, 2022
To assess the prevalence and factors associated with stunting and thinness among school-age children in rural primary schools in the East Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling procedure to select 840 school-aged children. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Height and weight measurements were taken, and a combined wet mount and concentration technique was used. Epi Data 3.1 was used to enter data, which was then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered significantly associated with stunting and thinness. Results: The prevalence of stunting and thinness was 25.5 and 13.0%, respectively. Being infected with an intestinal parasite (AOR =4.34; 95% CI: 2.52, 12.27), being in the age group 11-14 years (AOR =3.73; 95% CI: 2.19, 6.34), having the lowest dietary diversity practice (AOR =4.61; 95% CI: 1.73, 12.27), unimproved water sources (AOR =1.76; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.91), not practicing good hygiene practice (AOR =1.71; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.804) and having an unimproved latrine type (AOR =1.72; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.89) were significantly associated with stunting. On the other hand, unsecured food (AOR =1.74; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.81), eating less than 3 meals per day (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.11, 6.46), and untreated water (AOR =1.72; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.75) were factors associated significantly with thinness. Conclusion: Stunting and thinness are predominant public health problems in the study area, provided that the prevalence of stunting is slightly higher than that of a national survey on health and nutrition in schoolchildren, whereas the prevalence of thinness is lower when compared to the same national survey. In this study, the primary factor that was significantly associated with stunting was dietary diversity; the primary factor that was associated with thinness was eating fewer than 3 meals per day. So, an integrated strategy is important to alleviate undernutrition among school-aged children in the current study area.
BMC Pediatrics
Background: Undernutrition among school age children has an impact on their health, cognition, and educational achievement. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of stunting and wasting among school age children in Gondar town, northwest, Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was done among school children aged 6-14 years. Data on socio-demographic, nutritional and dietary status of children were collected using structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were carried out to determine the status of stunting and wasting. Data were entered into Epi-Info version 3.5.3 and transferred to SPSS version 20 for further analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify associated factors of stunting and wasting. Both crude odds and adjusted odds ratios with 95% CI were used to measure the strength of associations. In the multivariable analysis, variables with < 0.05 p-values were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 523 school age children were with the median age of 12 (10-13 inter quartile range) years participated in the study. The overall prevalence of stunting and wasting among primary school children was 241(46.1%; 95% CI: 42.3, 50.3) and 47 (9%; 95% CI: 6.7, 11.7), respectively. Child age (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.80), public tab/yard water source (AOR = 2.22; 95%CI: 1.46, 3.39), DDS < 4 (AOR = 1.89 95%CI: 1.08, 3.30), tea drinking habit (AOR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.27, 0.80) and anemia (AOR = 1.72 95%CI: 1.05, 2.83) were significant predictors of stunting. Moreover, child age (AOR = 3.91; 95% CI: 1.62, 9.44), maternal/care-givers' age ≤ 34 (AOR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.16, 0.71), maternal education (AOR = 2.55; 95%CI: 1.15, 5.65), family poverty (AOR = 3.23; 95% CI: 1.30, 7.93) and alcohol consumption (AOR = 2.93; 95%CI: 1.16, 7.42) were found significantly associated with wasting. Conclusion: Stunting and wasting were then major problems among school age children. Child age, water source for dinking, DDS < 4 and anemia resulted in stunting. On the other hand, child age, maternal education and age, family poverty and alcohol drinking were risk factors for wasting. Therefore, launching community based nutritional education programs, implementing school feeding and strengthening economic level of the communities are essential to reduce the problems.
BMC Pediatrics, 2015
Background: Under nutrition is one of the major causes of health problems among children under five years old in Ethiopia. Though the problem of under nutrition has decreased in the country, it is still continuing as one of the major causes of mortality of children under five. Studies have shown that the magnitude and related factors of under nutrition are varied in different agro-ecological settings of the country. Thus it is indispensable to assess the nature of the problem at community level. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of under nutrition and related factors among children under five years in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in Haramaya district from December 1, 2012 to January 30, 2013 and Multi-stage stratified systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. A total of 791 study subjects were included in the study. Data were collected using face-to-face interview and anthropometric measurements. World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro software was used to convert nutritional data indices from anthropometric measurement into Z-scores, and Multivariate logistic regression model with an enter method was used to determine the predictors of under nutrition. Results: The study indicated that prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years old were 45.8 %, 10.7 % and 21 % respectively. Children in rural Kebeles with Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) =2.45, 95 % CI(1.25-6.66), children who were 6 and above birth order (AOR =1.992, 95 % CI(1.05-3.77)), and children who were used to live with households having two and more under five children (AOR = 1.81, 95 % CI(1.19-2.7)) were more stunted than their counterparts. Children in the lowland Kebeles, (AOR = 3.29, 95 % CI(1.2-8.8)) and children having diarrhea, (AOR = 2.48, 95 % CI(1.28-4.78)); mothers with Body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 (AOR = 2.17, 95 % CI(1.17-3.81)); mothers who did not have ANC visit during pregnancy (AOR = 3.47, 95 % CI (1.49-7.8)) and with birth order of 4 to 5 children (AOR = 3.08, 95 % CI (1.11-8.5)), were more likely to be underweight than their counterparts. Moreover, male children (AOR = 2.37, 95 % CI (1.19-4.7)), children who were served food with family (AOR = 2.3, 95 % CI (1.14-4.9)), children who had fever, (AOR = 2.9, 95 % CI (1.16-7.2)), were more likely to be wasted than their counterparts. Conclusions: This study indicated that nearly half of the children under five years in the study area were stunted. Thus, a large number of children had poor nutritional history or growth failure. Furthermore, underweight and wasting were significantly high. The problem can be addressed by targeting children since their early ages and by conducting tailored nutrition education to mothers or caretakers to improve the nutritional status of their children.
Nutritional status of school children in eastern Hararghe administrative zone, eastern Ethiopia
Journal of Public Health, 2018
Aim This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of school children in eight elementary schools in Eastern Ethiopia. Subjects and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1523 schoolchildren. The study subjects' height and weight were measured via anthropometric measurements, and their nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric indicators of the body mass index for age and height-forage. The data were analyzed by AnthroPlus software and SPSS version 16. Results One thousand five hundred twenty-three schoolchildren whose age ranged from 6 to 18 years participated in the study. The prevalence of stunting was 17.1%, thinness 17.9%, and over-nutrition 5.6% (overweight accounted for 4.4% and obesity 1.2%). Children aged 15-18 years were found to be more stunted than the children aged 6-9 years (AOR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.08) and 10-14 (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.45). Children aged 15-18 years were also significantly thin for age compared with those aged 6-9 years (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.18, 0.56) and 10-14 (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.59). Children from rural residences were significantly stunted (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.26, 0.51) and overnurished (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.25, 0.71) compared with the children from urban areas. Children who lived in urban areas were also significantly thin for age compared with those who lived in rural areas (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.87). Conclusion Undernutrition was an important problem among the school children in the study area. Stunting and thinness were significantly increased in the higher age group. Therefore, more effort should be made to improve the nutritional status of children aged 15-18 years in both the rural and urban study areas.
PloS one, 2014
Little information is available on malnutrition-related factors among school-aged children ≥5 years in Ethiopia. This study describes the prevalence of stunting and thinness and their related factors in Libo Kemkem and Fogera, Amhara Regional State and assesses differences between urban and rural areas. In this cross-sectional study, anthropometrics and individual and household characteristics data were collected from 886 children. Height-for-age z-score for stunting and body-mass-index-for-age z-score for thinness were computed. Dietary data were collected through a 24-hour recall. Bivariate and backward stepwise multivariable statistical methods were employed to assess malnutrition-associated factors in rural and urban communities. The prevalence of stunting among school-aged children was 42.7% in rural areas and 29.2% in urban areas, while the corresponding figures for thinness were 21.6% and 20.8%. Age differences were significant in both strata. In the rural setting, fever in t...
Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy, 2014
Background: Children are most vulnerable to malnutrition in developing countries because of low dietary intakes, lack of appropriate care, and inequitable distribution of food within the household. Malnutrition remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children throughout the world. Malnutrition In Ethiopia, in the form of stunting, underweight and wasting were identified as 44%, 29% and 10% and Amhara National region state 52%, 33.4% and 9.9%, respectively in children under five. Objective: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among Children age 6-59 Months in Lalibela Town, Northern Ethiopia Methods: A-Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 19 to September 13, 2012 in Lalibela town, Northern Ethiopia which includes both urban and rural settings. Data were collected from 844 households with children age 6-59 months using pre tested structured questionnaires and measuring weight and height of children. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used using SPSS version 16 computer software to see the relevant associations. Anthropometric data were also converted into indices of nutritional status using Emergency Nutrition Assessment for SMART special software, 2012. Results: A total of 844 households were included in the study giving the response rate 100%. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 47.3% (95%CI: 43.2-51.1), 25.6% (95%CI: 20.6-30.6) and 8.9% (95% CI: 6.9-10.2), respectively. Among the various socioeconomic ,demographic and child health and care practices characteristics considered, age of the child 11-23 months (AOR= 2.30; (95%CI: 1.28-4.12), Deworming status (AOR=2.19; (95% CI: 1.41-3.39), sex of the child(AOR= 0.75; (95% CI: 0.57-1.00) and breast feed the child still now(AOR= 0.40;(95% CI: 0.20-0.78) remained to be significantly associated with stunting. Middle wealth quintile to the households (AOR=0.51; (95%CI: 0.28-0.91), age of the child 23-35 months(AOR=2.29; (95%CI: 1.14-4.61), number of children aged 6-59 months in the household (AOR=1.61; (95%CI: 1.08-2.41) and giving honey to the child in the morning (AOR=1.52; (95%CI: 1.03-2.24) were remained to be significantly and independently associated with underweight. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of malnutrition in the study area was found high and this was coupled with association of many independent variables. This needs appropriate factor specific interventions.
International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health, 2018
Introduction: Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and maturation in human development that demands extra nutrients and energy to support growth. Due to increased nutritional requirement, poor dietary diversity and dietary inadequacies during the adolescent period, they are more vulnerable to under-nutrition. Focusing on adolescents' nutrition, especially girls, provides a unique opportunity to break the intergenerational cycles of malnutrition Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 398 school adolescents in Hawzen Woreda, Eastern Tigray northern Ethiopia. Study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling method from five schools. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Beam balance and tap meter were used for anthropometric data. Entry and analysis of data were done by SPSS (version 20). WHO Anthro plus software was used to calculate body mass index for age and height for age. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict the factors associated with under-nutrition. Results: The result of this study showed that 32.2% of school adolescents were underweight, 0.3% and 33.2% were overweight and stunted respectively. The rate being underweight was higher in those adolescents born to illiterate fathers (AOR =1.94(1.19, 1.99)) family income less than 500 birr Original Research Article
International Journal of Pediatrics
Background. Every student has the potential to do well in school. Failing to provide good nutrition puts them at risk for missing out on meeting that potential and leads to long-term irreversible damage to cognitive development. However, taking action today to provide healthier choices in schools can help set students up for a successful future full of possibilities. So, this study is aimed at assessing the effect of nutritional status on academic performance of school-aged children. Methods. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 05- March 30, 2017 in Lalibela town. A total of 505 primary school students were included in the study. The child anthropometric measures were calculated using AnthroPlus software version 1.0.4 WHO 2007 standards. Bivariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression were fitted. The proportional odds ratio (POR) with a 95% CI and P value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. The overall prevalence of stuntin...
BMC Public Health, 2018
Background: Stunting is one of the most serious and challenging public health problems in Ethiopia, which constitute a significant obstacle to achieving better child health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with stunting among 6-12 years old children in Humbo district, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 633 children 6-12 years old living in Humbo district, Southern Ethiopia, from March to April, 2015. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select participants from households in eight Villages in the study area. Height was measured using standard methods and height for age Z-score was computed to assess stunting. EPI info version 3.5.4 was used for data entry, whereas Anthroplus software and SPSS version 20.0 were used for computation of height for age Z-scores and statistical analyses respectively. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with stunting in the study sample, using 95% confidence limits (statistical significance set at p < 0.050). Results: Prevalence of stunting was 57%, about, 3.5% were severely stunted, 27.3% moderately stunted and 26.4% mildly stunted, and the mean (SD) was − 1.1 (±1.2). About 7 (1.1%) boys and 15 (2.4%) girls were severely stunted. Age groups 10-12 years had significantly higher rate of stunting than others. Age (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.6), big family size (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.2-9.5) and field disposal of wastes (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2-5.8) were factors significantly associated with stunting. Conclusion: This study exposed high rate of stunting among school age children. Stunting remains a noticeable attribute of rural school age children. Findings suggest the need to implement evidence-based school-aged rural children nutrition policy and strategies as well as need for intervention to improve domestic waste management system in the rural community.