Nutritional Status of Children (6-59 Months) from Food Secure and Food Insecure Households in Rural Communities of Saesie Tsaeda-Emba District, Tigray, North Ethiopia: Comparative Study

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this study was to Assess and compare nutritional status and associated factors of 6 to 59 months old children from food secure and food insecure households in rural Kebeles of Saesie Tsaeda Emba district, Tigray, North Ethiopia. As a result, a comparative, cross sectional study was conducted on 841 children (421 from food secure and 420 from food insecure households) from February to March, 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select Children from each kebele. Anthropometric measurements were entered and calculated using ENA for SMART 2007software then transferred to SPSS version 20 to be processed and analyzed. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors of under nutrition at significance level p-value < 0.05. About (46.1%, 52.1%), (18.1%, 20.5%), and 7.1%, 12.6%) of the children from the food secure and food insecure kebelles were stunted, underweight and wasted respectively. Occupation of father, head of family, and duration of continued breast feeding were the factors associated with stunting in food secure households. Whereas age of the child, head of family, and duration of continued breast feeding were determinant factors for stunting in children from the food insecure households. Similarly, educational status of father, sex of the child, and current breast feeding status of the child were the factors associated with underweight for children from food secure households and age of mother, occupational status of father, sex of child, 1 st complementary food given to the child, and main source of water to the household were the main predictors of underweight in the food insecure households. The factors associated with child wasting in the food secure households were age of the father and number of cattle owned by the household and age of child and main source of water to the household were the factors associated with child wasting from the food insecure households. Finally, under nutrition among under-five years of age children was very high in the population. Therefore, addressing food security and then nutrition security using the productive safety net program in harmony with participation of all responsible bodies is crucial; as children of the food secure households were at better nutritional outcomes when compared to those of food insecure households.

Household Food Insecurity and its Association with Nutritional Status among Preschool Children in Gambella Town, Western Ethiopia

“…The result of the present study is similar with that of study carried out in Tigray region of Ethiopia that shows there was statistically significant difference in stunting between food secure and food insecure households in which children from food insecure households had about 48% at higher odds to be stunted when compared to the children of food secure households [23]. Moreover, similar findings were reported from a cross-sectional study conducted on less than 5 years children from Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Vietnam where the odds of being stunted were significantly higher for children in severely food-insecure households in Bangladesh and Ethiopia while the higher odds of being stunted was higher for children in moderately foodinsecure households in Vietnam [9].…”

“…In line with our analytical pathways, many studies suggest that the influence of food supply and access on nutritional status of children can be confounded by other key determinants of child nutrition, such as maternal knowledge on child nutrition and caring practices, maternal nutritional status, intra household food allocation and utilization, access to health services, and healthful environment like hygiene and sanitation [24]. However, Amaha et al, [23] reported similar finding where underweight and wasting in children had no association with household food insecurity. Other researchers also found that food insecurity had no association with wasting.…”

“…Supporting this fact, the present study revealed that the longer the duration of breast feeding, the lesser the odds of being stunted. Similarly study undertaken in the Tigray region showed children who were breastfed for the longer duration had less odds to be stunted [23].…”

Prevalence of stunting and associated factors among preschool children: A community based comparative cross sectional study in Ethiopia

“…Studies from Tigray Region, Ethiopia [38] and India [46] reported similar results. The association between large family size and stunting among preschool children can be partially explained by as the number of families increased in the household, the food consumption and expenditure will also be increased.…”

“…For example, Tigray reported 52% and 46.1% prevalence of stunting among children from FIHHs and FSHHs, respectively [38], and Shewa, reported 54.2% and 46.7% among children from FIHHs and FSHHs, respectively [39]. The possible reason for these discrepancies might be the fact that as Albuko is one of the districts in which community based nutrition intervention has been implemented for a long period of time which in turn expose the community to be aware of nutritional interventions thereby it has contributing to the reduction of stunting and other forms of malnutrition in the study are.…”