Undernutrition and associated factors among 24–36-month-old children in slum areas of Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess undernutrition and associated factors among 24–36-month-old children in the slum areas of Bahir Dar city.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 480 children from May 1 to 26, 2015. The simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 was used for analysis. The prevalence of undernutrition was computed. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were also carried out to identify the association between the independent and dependent variables and the predictors of undernutrition, respectively. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant in the final model.ResultThe prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 42%, 22.1%, and 6.4%, respectively. Independent predictors for stunting were illness in the preceding two weeks, having two children under three years old, taking prelacteal feeding, and early or late initiation of complementary feeding. Illness in the preceding two weeks, lack of latrine utilization, and lack of hand washing practice were independent predictors for underweight.ConclusionThere was a high prevalence of undernutrition in this study. Thus, health extension workers and health professionals in Bahir Dar city should educate mothers/caretakers on the health impact of giving prelacteal feeding, hand washing practice, time of initiation of complementary feeding, and birth interval.

Undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6&ndash;59 months living in slum areas of Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

“…The prevalence of stunting in the current report, 42.3%, is in line with a study conducted in slum areas of Bahir Dar town, also in the Amhara region of Ethiopia (42%),12 and in Kenya (47%) 14. But the prevalence seen in this study was higher than in studies conducted in other countries, such as Bangladesh (19.5%),32 Iran (9.53%)33 and India (30.3%) 34.…”

Low Birth Weight Is a Risk Factor of Malnutrition in Children Under Five Years Old in Coastal Areas

“…(Baculu & Jufri, 2017). This result study was almost the same as the malnutrition cases in slum areas in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia, which the prevalence of malnutrition in children aged 24-36 months was high (Demilew & Abie, 2017).…”

Stunting, Wasting and Underweight in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

“…In addition to the above mentioned factors, reviewed studies reported fever to be mostly associated with wasting [ 35 , 40 , 41 , 49 ] and underweight [ 21 , 39 , 41 , 47 ] with only two studies reporting fever as a determinant of stunting [ 39 , 40 ], while only one study conducted in Tanzania associated malaria with wasting [ 61 ]. Also, studies reported environmental variables associated with sanitation, hygiene and housing conditions as risk factors for stunting [ 35 , 42 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 64 , 65 ], wasting [ 23 , 32 , 37 , 38 , 41 , 58 , 59 ] and underweight [ 39 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 64 , 65 ]. Most studies reported rural residence as a factor associated with undernutrition, but a study conducted in Kenya [ 52 ] identified urban residence as a risk factor for wasting and underweight.…”