Prevalence of Undernutrition and Its Associated Factors among Children below Five Years of Age in Bure Town, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background. Malnutrition is the major public health problem over the world. Developing countries are highly affected. Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia, contribute the highest of all. The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among children below five years of age.Methods. Community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 342 study participants. Simple random sampling technique was used to select sampling kebeles and study units. Weight and height were measured using calibrated instruments. The data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 software and calculated using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software and/or World Health Organization Anthro software with aid of Stat/Transfer.Results. Overall prevalence of undernutrition was 35.5%, of which 85 (24.9%), 38 (11.1%), and 49 (14.3%) were stunting, wasting, and underweight, respectively. Male children were more affected in both severe and moderate nutritional problems compared to female children. The finding showed that 27 (7.9%) had severe stunting, 15 (4.4%) had severe wasting, and 11 (3.2%) had severe underweight, respectively.Conclusion. Undernutrition was high in Bure town among children below five years of age. Male sex, maternal educational status, low household income, preterm babies, absence of antenatal follow-up, diarrhea, and respiratory infections within one-month duration were factors affecting undernutrition.

Risk Factors Associated with Under-Five Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight Based on Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey Datasets in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

“…In this study, the prevalence of severe stunting (22.9%) and underweight (10.3%) is markedly higher than the previous studies that reported 7.90% severely stunting and 3.20% severely underweight in Bure Town, west Gojjam Zone [17]. Children born in rural areas five years preceding the survey were more likely severely stunted (21.5%) and severely underweight (9.30%) than their urban counterparts.…”

“…Moreover, male children are highly severely stunted (27.3%) and severely underweight (12.2%) than females. is figure is higher than that reported in the study in the Bure Town of west Gojjam [17], 10.7% of severely stunted and 6% of severely underweight.…”

“…A similar study conducted in rural Ethiopia also reported 41.2% of stunting and 27% of underweight [34], whereas a study conducted in Nigeria reported 47.6% and 25.6% of stunting and underweight, respectively [35]. While a study in the Bure Town of West Gojjam Zone (Amhara region) [17] reported lower prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight (24.9%, 11.1%, and 14.30%, respectively), another study in Okrika Town of Nigeria [36] also reported 13.6%, 8.80%, and 10.5% prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight, respectively. A similar study in east Gojjam Zone [14] reported lower prevalence of underweight (15.3%) and wasting (10%), but higher stunting (44.7%).…”

Nutritional Assessment of Under Five Children Attending Pediatric Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital in the Capital of Nepal

“…These findings suggest that children in the capital city have a better nutritional status compared to other parts of the country. Stunted under five children in our study was much lower compared to other areas of the world like Ethiopia (57.5), [19] Philippines (34%), [16] North Vietnam (29.8%), [13] NW Ethiopia (24.9%), [12] and Thailand (19.9%). [20] This difference could be due to inclusion of children from the capital, Kathmandu and surrounding districts only.…”

“…than that of 11.1% in NW Ethiopia, [13] but lower than that of Ethiopia (16%), [14] and North West Tanzania (17.8%). [15] Severely wasted population in this study was 6.36% which is higher than that in Philippines.…”