High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Objective. To assess undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in Gondar Town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select study participants. Structured interviewer administered...

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Main Authors: Zegeye Abebe, Degefaye Zelalem Anlay, Belete Biadgo, Asemarie Kebede, Tsedalu Melku, Bamlaku Enawgaw, Mulugeta Melku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5367070
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author Zegeye Abebe
Degefaye Zelalem Anlay
Belete Biadgo
Asemarie Kebede
Tsedalu Melku
Bamlaku Enawgaw
Mulugeta Melku
author_facet Zegeye Abebe
Degefaye Zelalem Anlay
Belete Biadgo
Asemarie Kebede
Tsedalu Melku
Bamlaku Enawgaw
Mulugeta Melku
author_sort Zegeye Abebe
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To assess undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in Gondar Town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select study participants. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify associated factors. Results. The prevalences of wasting and stunting were 6.8% and 45.7%, respectively. Higher odds of wasting were observed among children whose fathers were daily laborers (AOR = 2.63), children who had eating problem (AOR = 2.96), and those who were not exclusively breast-fed for the first six months (AOR = 5.63). Similarly, higher odds of stunting were found among female children (AOR = 1.65), children who lived in households having four to six families (AOR = 2.14), and children who did not start breast-feeding within one hour of birth (AOR = 0.67). Conclusion. Childhood undernutrition was a significant problem. Child eating problem, paternal occupation, and exclusive breast-feeding were associated with wasting, whereas family size, child sex, and breast-feeding initiation time were associated with stunting. Therefore, strengthening of early initiation and exclusive breast-feeding, promoting healthcare seeking behavior, and designing social support programme for poor family are recommended to reduce undernutrition.
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spelling doaj-art-b39ee71d41b2452d904e4ae90b1156cb2025-08-20T03:20:51ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592017-01-01201710.1155/2017/53670705367070High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional StudyZegeye Abebe0Degefaye Zelalem Anlay1Belete Biadgo2Asemarie Kebede3Tsedalu Melku4Bamlaku Enawgaw5Mulugeta Melku6Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaSchool of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Hematology and Immunohematology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaObjective. To assess undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in Gondar Town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select study participants. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify associated factors. Results. The prevalences of wasting and stunting were 6.8% and 45.7%, respectively. Higher odds of wasting were observed among children whose fathers were daily laborers (AOR = 2.63), children who had eating problem (AOR = 2.96), and those who were not exclusively breast-fed for the first six months (AOR = 5.63). Similarly, higher odds of stunting were found among female children (AOR = 1.65), children who lived in households having four to six families (AOR = 2.14), and children who did not start breast-feeding within one hour of birth (AOR = 0.67). Conclusion. Childhood undernutrition was a significant problem. Child eating problem, paternal occupation, and exclusive breast-feeding were associated with wasting, whereas family size, child sex, and breast-feeding initiation time were associated with stunting. Therefore, strengthening of early initiation and exclusive breast-feeding, promoting healthcare seeking behavior, and designing social support programme for poor family are recommended to reduce undernutrition.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5367070
spellingShingle Zegeye Abebe
Degefaye Zelalem Anlay
Belete Biadgo
Asemarie Kebede
Tsedalu Melku
Bamlaku Enawgaw
Mulugeta Melku
High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
International Journal of Pediatrics
title High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_full High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_short High Prevalence of Undernutrition among Children in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort high prevalence of undernutrition among children in gondar town northwest ethiopia a community based cross sectional study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5367070
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