Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Feb 28;19(2):e0282463.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282463. eCollection 2024.

Spatial regression models to assess variations of composite index for anthropometric failure across the administrative zones in Ethiopia

Haile Mekonnen Fenta  1 , Temesgen Zewotir  2 , Essey Kebede Muluneh  3
Affiliations

Spatial regression models to assess variations of composite index for anthropometric failure across the administrative zones in Ethiopia

Haile Mekonnen Fenta et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: There are a number of previous studies that investigated undernutrition and its determinants in Ethiopia. However, the national average in the level of undernutrition conceals large variation across administrative zones of Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to determine the geographic distribution of composite index for anthropometric failure (CIAF) and identify the influencing factors it' might be more appropriate.

Methods: We used the zonal-level undernutrition data for the under-five children in Ethiopia from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) dataset. Different spatial models were applied to explore the spatial distribution of the CIAF and the covariates.

Results: The Univariate Moran's I statistics for CIAF showed spatial heterogeneity of undernutrition in Ethiopian administrative zones. The spatial autocorrelation model (SAC) was the best fit based on the AIC criteria. Results from the SAC model suggested that the CIAF was positively associated with mothers' illiteracy rate (0.61, pvalue 0.001), lower body mass index (0.92, pvalue = 0.023), and maximum temperature (0.2, pvalue = 0.0231) respectively. However, the CIAF was negatively associated with children without any comorbidity (-0.82, pvalue = 0.023), from families with accessibility of improved drinking water (-0.26, pvalue = 0.012), and minimum temperature (-0.16).

Conclusion: The CIAF across the administrative zones of Ethiopia is spatially clustered. Improving women's education, improving drinking water, and improving child breast feeding can reduce the prevalence of undernutrition (CIAF) across Ethiopian administrative zones. Moreover, targeted intervention in the geographical hotspots of CIAF can reduce the burden of CIAF across the administrative zones.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Locations of administrative divisions (zones) of Ethiopia: a) Regions; b) zones (Source: Authors).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Different spatial weight matrices.
Fig 3
Fig 3. The spatial effects models as well as the OLS model.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Relative risk observed vs predicted: Spatial distribution of crude under-five CIAF rates by zones in Ethiopia.
Source: Created by the authors from EDHS estimates.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ng M., et al.., Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The lancet, 2014. 384(9945): p. 766–781. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Black R.E., et al.., Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. The lancet, 2013. 382(9890): p. 427–451. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60937-X - DOI - PubMed
    1. Black R.E., et al.., Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. The lancet, 2008. 371(9608): p. 243–260. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61690-0 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Consensus C., Expert panel findings. Copenhagen Consensus, 2012.
    1. Collaborators G.R.F., Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet (London, England), 2016. 388(10053): p. 1659. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31679-8 - DOI - PMC - PubMed