PREVALENCE OF UNDERNUTRITION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN GONDAR CITY, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA 2014.
Abstract
Author(s): Tilayie Feto Gelano, Nigusie Birhan, Mengistu Mekonnen.
Introduction: - Malnutrition specifically under-nutrition is still devastating public problem in developing countries particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. Objective: -To assess th e prevalence and associated factors of under-nutrition among under-five children in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2014. Method:- Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2014. Multistage sampling technique was used. Data was collected using pre-tested interview based questionnaire and standardized anthropometric equipment. Data was entered into Epi-info version 3.5.1 and transported to SPSS version 20 software package for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with Under-nutrition among under-five children. Result:-This study showed that, 47%, 17.7% and 7.7 % of under-five children had stunting, underweight and wasting problem respectively. The main contributing factors of under-nutrition were found to be; monthly income of families (AOR=4.46; 95%CI: 1.43-13.87), birth order of under five children (AOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.06- 7.70), sex of children (AOR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.06- 7.70) and maternal educational status (AOR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.15- 3.35). Conclusion: - Prevalence of under-nutrition was found to be high and maternal educational status, monthly incomes of the family and birth order of under-five children were found to be important factors of under-nutrition among under-five children. Key words: Under-nutrition, Malnutrition, Underweight, wasting, stunting, Gondar city, Ethiopia.
