Prevalence of underweight and its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in Angolalla Tera district, Northeast Ethiopia, community based crossectional study

Abstract

IntroductionUndernutrition is a major public health problem all over the world. In Ethiopia, the child malnutrition rate is one of the most serious public health problems and the highest in the world. High malnutrition rates in the country pose a significant obstacle to achieving better child health outcomes. ObjectivesThis study was aimed to assess the prevalence of underweight and its associated factors among 6-59months of age children in Angolela Tera district, northeast Ethiopia. MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted by a simple random sampling technique with a sample size of 414 enrolled mothers with 6-59months of children. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The data was entered using EPI DATA version 3.1and analysis was done by SPSS version 24 and WHO Anthro software was used for anthropometry calculation. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. ResultAmong 414 mothers with child pairs the result of the current study indicated that 15.9% (95% CI: 12.6-19.6)were underweight. Being male (AOR=1.8;95%CI;1.04-3.16), birth interval below 24 months (AOR3.2=95%CI;1.59-6.71), average monthly family income less than 1596ETB (AOR4.9=95%: CI;2.53-9.76), Children having diarrhea in the past two weeks before the data collection (AOR =9.06; 95% CI: 3.14-26.12), and children having diarrhea within two weeks (AOR=2.06;95%: CI;1.07-3.96) were significantly associated with underweight. ConclusionThis study revealed a high prevalence of underweight among children aged 6-59 months in the study area. All the concerned bodies should be strengthening the health extension program to improve and provide the necessary education for the community on nutritional programs, environmental sanitation, and diarrhea prevention.