Predictors of Chronic Undernutrition (Stunting) among Under Five Children in Rural East Wollega, Oromiya Region, West Ethiopia: A Community Based Unmatched Case - Control Study

Abstract

Background: Chronic childhood undernutrition (stunting) becomes an underlying cause of morbidity and mortality in children as well as increasing susceptibility to different diseases later in adolescents and adults. Thus the objective of the present study was to identify determinants of chronic undernutrition among children under fi ve years aged in rural west Ethiopia as careful understanding of these factors will help to design appropriate interventions. Methods: Community based case control study was conducted on 1038 (346 cases and 692 controls) samples of children under fi ve years aged with their respective mothers from March to July, 2016. The data was collected through interview and anthropometric measurement. Odds ratio and 95% CI (confi dence interval) was estimated to identify predictors of stunting using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The overall response rate was 94.5%. Stunting was signifi cantly associated with being male children [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.458 95%CI = 1.52, 3.99], high birth order (AOR = 1.707 95%CI = 1.02, 2.857), narrow birth interval (AOR = 4.69 95%CI = 1.613, 13.66), lack of ownership of farm land (AOR = 1.698 95%CI = 1.035, 2.785), open fi eld waste disposal, diarrhea (AOR = 2.44 95%CI = 1.42, 4.19), short duration of breast feeding ((AOR = 2.15 95%CI = 1.249, 3.707) and use of bottle (AOR = 2.49 95%CI = 1.312, 4.725) and hand (AOR = 2.39 95%CI = 1.226, 4.67) for feeding of complementary foods. Conclusions: Stunting was signifi cantly associated with male sex, high birth order, narrow birth interval, lack of possession of agricultural land, poor sanitation, diarrhea, inappropriate IYCF (infant and young child feeding) practices like; short duration of breast feeding and mothers utilization of bottle and hand for feeding additional foods. Thus organized efforts aimed at improving sanitary condition and IYCF practices of the rural community is necessarily in order to tackle the problem of undernutrition in children. More over mothers needs to be encouraged to space births through use of family planning services. Keywords: Ethiopia; East Wollega; Under Five Children; Chronic Nutritional Status; Stunting