Underweight and Its Associated Factors Among Children 6–59 Months of Age in Debre Tabor Town, Amhara Region of Ethiopia, 2019: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Even-thought malnutrition is a double burden now time being; under-nutrition among under-five year's children is a common public health problem, and it is one of the main reasons for the death of children in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of underweight among children age 6-59 months at Debre Tabor town Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on an underweight using cluster and systematic random sampling. A sample of 608 participants completed a questionnaire designed for the study. The questionnaire was coded and entered into Epi info version 7.2.0.1 and exported to SPSS 20.0 for data analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compute family wealth status. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to see which independent variables have an association with the dependent variable, and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant at 95% CI. RESULTS: The result revealed that underweight for children age 6-59 months was 17.4% (95% CI: 14.5-20.6%). Fathers who have primary education levels were 2.13 times more likely to have under-weighted children than those who have secondary and above education levels [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.13; 95% CI: 1.19-3.80]. Similarly, parents who have poor wealth status in their family 2.2 times more likely to have underweight children than those who have rich wealth status in their family [AOR: 2.2 (1.21-4.09)]. However, on the sex of children being males were 1.8 times more likely to become underweight than females [AOR: 1.8 (1.14-2.85)]. CONCLUSION: Among under-nutrition problems of children age 6-59 months, underweight is still an important public health problem. Therefore, family education and family wealth status should be modified, and responsible bodies design further nutritional intervention programs.