Co-morbid anaemia and stunting among children 2–5 years old in southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, 38% of children less than 5 years of age are stunted and 57% are anaemic. Both have a negative impact later in life on physical growth and cognitive development and often coexist. There are few studies in Ethiopia that assessed co-morbid anaemia and stunting (CAS) and context-specific factors associated with it.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of CAS, and factors associated with CAS among children aged 2 to 5 years, in southern Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 331 randomly selected children in 2017. Mothers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to obtain child and household information. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples for haemoglobin were collected. Stunting was defined as height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) less than −2 SDs and anaemia was defined as altitude-adjusted haemoglobin levels less than 11.0 g/dL. CAS was defined when a child was both stunted and anaemic. Crude and adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with CAS.ResultsOut of 331 children studied, 17.8% (95% CI 13.87% to 22.4%) had CAS. Factors found significantly linked with higher odds of CAS were increased child age (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.0 (1.0 to 1.1)) and no iron supplementation during the last pregnancy (AOR (95% CI) 2.9 (1.3 to 6.2)). One factor found significantly linked to lower odds of CAS was food secured households (AOR (95% CI) 0.3 (0.1 to 0.9)).ConclusionsCo-morbid anaemia and stunting among children in the study area is of concern; it is associated with household food security, iron supplementation during pregnancy and child age. Therefore, comprehensive interventions focusing on improving household food security and promoting iron supplementation for pregnant women are suggested.

Dietary Diversity, Household Food Insecurity and Stunting among Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in N’Djamena—Chad

“…This study’s stunting rate was lower than the 27.1% found in the Asia–Pacific region in 2021 [ 29 ]. This prevalence is also lower than that of studies carried out in Thailand, Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, which found 38%, 50.7%, 32.48%, 37.6%, 52.8%, 37.5%, 32.8% and 38%, respectively [ 14 , 16 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. However, our results were superior to those of other studies conducted in Vietnam, Mali, Benin, Senegal, and China, which found 25%, 14.1%, 24.2%, 16.6%, and 20.7%, respectively [ 13 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

Sociodemographic and Healthcare Factors Associated with Stunting in Children Aged 6–59 Months in the Urban Area of Bali Province, Indonesia 2018

“…The findings showed that mothers who did not take at least 90 iron tablets during pregnancy were at risk of delivering children with stunting. The results are in line with the research findings in Ethiopia [ 37 ] and Nepal [ 38 ], where iron supplementation was associated with maternal and fetal well-being. The regular consumption of iron likely prevents mothers from anemia.…”

Dietary practices and nutritional status of young children in the former ensete monoculture dominated Sidama region, southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study

“…Besides, 27% of the children aged 0–24 months were anaemic and stunted. This relationship has recently been described by other child health studies from southern Ethiopia [ 48 , 49 ], which suggested looking at anaemia and stunting as syndemic needing similar preventive strategies. Another study done in India and Peru support our finding; positive association between linear growth failure and low haemoglobin level [ 50 ].…”

“…Ethiopia [48,49], which suggested looking at anaemia and stunting as syndemic needing similar preventive strategies. Another study done in India and Peru support our finding; positive association between linear growth failure and low haemoglobin level [50].…”