Abstract:
Background: Undernutrition is the major health problem in developing countries and the whole world
which mostly affects underprivileged populations. In Ethiopia there is no clear information about the health
status in general and nutritional status in specific; like the prevalence and forms of undernutrition, their
associated factors among adolescent street children. Understanding the magnitude and contributing factors
for undernutrition helps to alleviate the problem through integrated formulation and implementation of
policies and strategies.
Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among adolescent
of street children in Jimma town from March 1-31, 2019.
Methods and materials: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 312 street
children from March 1st to 31st.Complete enumeration of participant was made after conducting preliminary
survey and registering all available street children in all corners of the town. Self-administered structured
questioner was used for data collection. We used Epi data version 3.1 for data entry and SPSS version 20
for statistical analysis. WHO Anthro plus software version 1.0.4 was used for computing standardized
indicators of nutritional status. Independent variables with p-value ≤0.25 in bivariate analysis were included
into multivariable logistic regression and variables with P-value <0.05 in multivariable logistic regression
were declared as statistically significant.
Results: Prevalence of thinness was 29.2% [95% C.I: 24%- 34.0%], and that of stunting was 30.4% [95%
C.I; 24.6% - 35.3%]. Being female [AOR: 2.55, 95%C.I: 1.16- 5.63], Ever skipped one or more daily meal
per day [AOR: 6.56, 95%C.I: 2.25- 19.15], Inadequate dietary diversity score [AOR: 1.86, 95%C.I: 1.05-
3.27] and using unprotected water source [AOR: 1.78, 95%C.I: 1.03- 3.05] were statistically significant
factors for thinness whereas being in age group 15-18 [AOR: 5.78, 95%C.I: 3.20 -10.40] and ever used
substance [AOR: 3.01, 95%C.I: 1.17 -7.77] were statistically significant factors for stunting among
adolescent of street children.
Conclusion and recommendation: In this study, undernutrition, especially thinness and stunting was high
among adolescent of street children and a range of factors were observed that results in undernutrition.
Service provisions targeting nutritional supply, personal and environmental sanitations should be given to
these street children through intersectoral collaboration
