Prevalence and associated factors of underweight among children 6–59 months of age in Takusa district, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundMost of the nearly 104 million underweight children in the world lived in South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in 2010. According to the 2014 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) report, 24 and 7% of children aged 6–59 months were underweight and severely underweight, respectively. Although appropriate child feeding and nutritional interventions reduce child illness and death, malnutrition remains a leading public health problem in Ethiopia. As literature on the issue is scarce in northwest Ethiopia, this study aimed at determining the prevalence of under-weight and associated factors in children 6–59 months of age in Takusa district, northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February, 2017, at Takusa district, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 645 subjects were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. Anthro software version 2.02 was used to determine the nutritional status of the children. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with underweight. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with the corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were used to show the strength of associations, and variables with P-values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsIn this study, the overall prevalence of underweight was 19.5% (95% CI: 16.4–22.8). According to the multivariate analysis, urban residence (AOR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.38–0.95), no antenatal care (ANC) follow up (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI 1.01–2.52), and mothers age (over 35 years) (AOR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.38–0.99) were significantly associated with lower odds of underweight.ConclusionIn the study community, the prevalence of underweight was lower than the findings of different studies in Ethiopia. Advanced maternal age (> 35 years), no antenatal follow up during pregnancy, and rural residence were significantly associated with underweight. Therefore, interventions targeting community management of acute malnutrition might be appropriate to manage the problem of underweight; efforts should also be intensified to reduce under-weight by focusing on identified determinants.

Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Risk Factors Among Children Under Five Years of age in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Evidence from 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

“…Children from rural areas were 1.16 times more likely to be underweight compared to children from urban areas. This nding is in agreement with the study conducted in Takusa district, Northwest Ethiopia [16]. The remarkable difference in the rate of underweight among rural and urban children might be differences in living circumstances, deviations in early screening of mothers at child conception in urban areas compared with rural areas, exposure to poor dietary diversity and greater risks of infections among rural children.…”

“…The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting in Amhara region was 46.3%, 28.4% and 9.8%, respectively. In this study, stunting and underweight are higher than that of the studies conducted in Ethiopia which were 38.3% and 23.3% [8], in Dale district 25.6% and 19% [15], Takusa district 36.5% and 19.5% [16], respectively. The prevalence of stunting and underweight in this study is higher than the nding reported in Nairobi Peri-Urban Slum 30.2% and 14.9% [17], respectively.…”

Prevalence of malnutrition and associated risk factors among under-five children in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: evidence from 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

“…Children from rural areas were 1.16 times more likely to be underweight compared to children from urban areas. This nding is in agreement with the study conducted in Takusa district, Northwest Ethiopia [15]. The remarkable difference in the rate of underweight among rural and urban children might be differences in living circumstances, deviations in early screening of mothers at child conception in urban areas compared with rural areas, exposure to poor dietary diversity and greater risks of infections among rural children.…”

“…and 19% [14], Takusa district 36.5% and 19.5% [15], respectively. The prevalence of stunting and underweight in this study are higher than the nding reported in Nairobi Peri-Urban Slum 30.2% and 14.9% [16], respectively.…”

Determinants of Severe Acute Malnutrition Among 6-59 Months’ Children at Dubti Referral Hospital, Afar Agro-Pastoralist Region North Eastern Ethiopia, 2018

“…It kills 3.1 million under-ve children every year [1][2]. Under-ve children are the most susceptible age group for malnutrition [3]. Malnutrition at the early stages of life can increase risk infections, morbidity, and mortality, together with decreased mental and cognitive development.…”