PREVALENCE OF UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS IN DROUGHT-AFFECTED PASTORALISTS COMMUNITY IN TELTELE WOREDA BORENA ZONE OROMIA REGIONAL STATE ETHIOPIA COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is one of the most serious public health problems in the world. In Ethiopia, undernutrition is the underlying cause of 270,000 under-five death each year. of child deaths, with some of the highest rates of stunting and underweight in the world. the prevalence and factors associated with children's undernutrition in pastoralist communities are all unknown. National estimates of child undernutrition are not always comparable to local estimates. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in drought-affected pastoralist communities in Teltele, Woreda Borana Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2023. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Teltele Woreda Borana Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, from April 20 to June 30, 2023. A multistage Cluster sampling technique was used to select 632 study participants. kobo toolbox collect data and exported to SPSS Version 25 weights for height/length, weight for age, and height for age were calculated using WHO Anthro version 3.2.2 software. Descriptive statistics were done to summarize household characteristics, and binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify risk factors for nutritional status and control confounders. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to select potential candidate variables at p value <=0.25 and those variables were further analysed to fit the final multivariable logistic regression model. Result:- The prevalence of stunted, underweight, and wasted was 57.8 %, 43.3%, and 38.7%, respectively. Feeding other than breast milk in the first 48 hour, Vitamin A Supplementation, colostrum feeding, the duration of exclusive breast feeding, attempts to purify drinking water, and household food security status increase stunting. Moreover, the associated factors significant with underweight were family size, history of ANC visits, source of drinking water, and prelacteal feeding, whereas sex, attempt to purify water, and type of toilet facility increased the prevalence of wasting Conclusion:- undernutrition in study area was greater than regional and national averages, factors associated with the nutritional status of pastoralist children are different those from agrarian community. Attempts to purify drinking water have been associated with stunting and wasting. the source of drinking water was also associated with stunting and underweight, vitamin A supplementation, and prelacteal feeding were also related to undernutrition. Thus, nutritional intervention and wash programs in the Teltele district should focus on these factors.