School-Aged Children Felling Hunger at School Were at a Higher Risk for Thinness in Kersa District, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Thinness in school children is a serious health condition with serious consequences for their development, health, and well-being. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of thinness among school age children in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among school age children in Eastern Ethiopia. A child was identified as thin if Body Mass Index for -age Z-score is below minus two standard deviations. Result: Thinness was observed among 206 of 1768 school children (11.6%; 95% CI; CI 10.1- 13.1); about 2% had very low BMI for age. Children in the age group 13-14 years had 1.62 times the risk of thinness compared to children aged 5-9 years (AOR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.39). The risk of thinness among children reported felling hunger at school was 1.55 times as high as the risk of thinness compared to children who did not report felling hunger at school (AOR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.23). Children from families who did not have latrine had 1.53 times the risk of thinness compared to children from families who had latrine (AOR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.13). On the other hand, children born to older mother (age ≥35 year) had 30% less risk of being thin compared to children born from younger mothers (AOR 0.70; (95% CI), 0.51-0.98). Conclusion: This study provided evidence that over 10% of school children were under acute nutritional stress in the form of thinness. Thus, integration of nutrition interventions into a comprehensive school health program including free school meals can potentially benefit those children.