Prevalence and factors associated with stunting and thinness among school age children in rural primary schools, East Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Purpose To assess the prevalence and factors associated with stunting and thinness among school-age children in rural primary schools in the East Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling procedure to select 840 school-aged children. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Height and weight measurements were taken, and a combined wet mount and concentration technique was used. Epi Data 3.1 was used to enter data, which was then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered significantly associated with stunting and thinness. Results The prevalence of stunting and thinness was 25.5 and 13.0%, respectively. Being infected with an intestinal parasite (AOR =4.34; 95% CI: 2.52, 12.27), being in the age group 11–14 years (AOR =3.73; 95% CI: 2.19, 6.34), having the lowest dietary diversity practice (AOR =4.61; 95% CI: 1.73, 12.27), unimproved water sources (AOR =1.76; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.91), not practicing good hygiene practice (AOR =1.71; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.804) and having an unimproved latrine type (AOR =1.72; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.89) were significantly associated with stunting. On the other hand, unsecured food (AOR =1.74; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.81), eating less than 3 meals per day (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.11, 6.46), and untreated water (AOR =1.72; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.75) were factors associated significantly with thinness. Conclusion Stunting and thinness are predominant public health problems in the study area, provided that the prevalence of stunting is slightly higher than that of a national survey on health and nutrition in schoolchildren, whereas the prevalence of thinness is lower when compared to the same national survey. In this study, the primary factor that was significantly associated with stunting was dietary diversity; the primary factor that was associated with thinness was eating fewer than 3 meals per day. So, an integrated strategy is important to alleviate undernutrition among school-aged children in the current study area.

Prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among primary school-aged children in Gudeya Bila district, West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…It is comparable with other studies conducted in Arba Minch 8.0%, 12 Gondar town northwest Ethiopia 9%, 6 South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia-6.3% 17 and Kallin District, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt 6.7%. 28 However, the finding of this study was lower than those of studies done in Mecha woreda, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia 10.8%, 23 Fogera and Libo Kemkem districts, northwest Ethiopia 21.4%, 7 Ethiopia 18.2%, 24 Dembia district, North West Ethiopia 13% 25 Nsukka, Nigeria 13.0%, 21 Kassala State, Sudan 32.3% 32 and Rural Madagascar 11.2%. 33 The possible reason for this might be seasonal variation and the variability of risk factors across different geographic settings.…”

“…There is closeness between the sample size in this study and that of study in the Myanmar. However, the study showed that the prevalence of stunting was lower than the study done in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where 17.8% of the school-age children were stunted,30 Bahir Dar city where 15.13% of the subjects were stunted,13 Northeast Ethiopia where 14.1% were stunted,16 North West Ethiopia where 25.5% of school-age children were stunted25 and urban slums in India where 18.5% of them were stunted 10. When compared with the study done in Arba Minch where 41.9% of the school-aged children were stunted,12 and Gondar town where 46.1% were stunted,6 the prevalence was much lower.…”

“…This finding is relevant to other studies conducted in Northeast Ethiopia16 and South Gondar Zone17 which revealed that poor hand washing practice after toilet use is significantly associated with stunting. The study in Northwest Ethiopia also showed relevant findings in this regard 25. The possible reason could be that hand washing with soap after toilet use is mandatory to prevent infection and intestinal parasites and promote health.…”

“…So far conducted studies in different parts of Ethiopia found that the prevalence of stunting among school-age children was 9.8%–48.1%7–9 and thinness was 6.3%–21.4% 6 7 12 17 23–25…”

“…The study in Northwest Ethiopia also showed relevant findings in this regard. 25 The possible reason could be that hand washing with soap after toilet use is mandatory to prevent infection and intestinal parasites and promote health. If health is promoted, normal growth continues and the risk of stunting would be minimised.…”