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. 2024 May 21:69:1606837.
doi: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606837. eCollection 2024.

Underweight and Predictors Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in South Ethiopia

Temesgen Mohammed Toma  1   2 , Kassahun Tamene Andargie  1 , Rahel Abera Alula  1 , Bahiru Mulatu Kebede  3 , Kidus Temesgen  4 , Tamirat Gezahegn Guyo  1
Affiliations

Underweight and Predictors Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in South Ethiopia

Temesgen Mohammed Toma et al. Int J Public Health. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: South Ethiopia; children; predictors; south Ari district; underweight.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Schematic representation of the sampling procedure to assess underweight and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in South Ari District, South Ethiopia, 2021: A community-based cross-sectional study.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Underweight status of children aged 6–59 months in South Ari district, South Ethiopia, 2021: A community-based cross-sectional study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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