UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN ARBA MINCH ZURIA WOREDA, GAMO ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: As of many developing countries undernutrition is one of the most health problems among under five children in Ethiopia. Undernutrition is leading causes of sickness and mortality among children with many associated factors. There was limited information on the association of the implementation of extension program to children nutritional status. Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among 6-59 month-old children in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda (AZW), Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study design was used from May to June among under five children in AZW. A multistage sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 608. The study participants were included and interviewed using a structured and pretested questionnaire. The data was entered using KOBO collect version 3.5.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Height/length, weight and age of children was converted to Z-score indices using WHO 2006 growth reference. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was computed to declare association at p value <0.05. Result: Among study participants, 51.4%, 15.8% and 8.0% of them were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. Sex of the child (AOR= 0.54, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.78) and dietary diversity score (AOR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.35) were significantly associated with stunting. Absence of fever in the past two weeks (AOR=0.31, 95% CI=0.14, 0.67) and not using family planning methods (AOR=3.92, 95% CI=1.68, 9.13) were associated to wasting. Antenatal care visit (AOR=2.19, 95% CI=1.07, 4.47) and household food security status(AOR=2.91, 95% CI: 1.73, 4.92) were significantly associated with being underweight. Conclusion: In this study, under five children were chronically undernourished. Age of the child and food insecurity increase the chance of being underweight and stunting. Not using family planning increase the odds of wasting and underweight. Being male also increase the odds of wasting and stunting. However, the study founds no significant association between the types of household with the outcome variables. Thus, nutritional intervention program in AZW, Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia should focus on these factors