Abstract:
Background: The first 1,000 days of life is a critical window of opportunity for health and
development of a child. Growth deficiencies begin during pregnancy and continue until 24
months of age since children are more susceptible to infections, highly sensitive to biological
programming and totally dependent on others for nutrition, care and social interactions. In
Ethiopia under-nutrition is responsible for 32% of under 5 children deaths. But many studies
from Ethiopia did not considered maternal factors like level of autonomy and common mental
disorders as predictors for child under-nutrition.
Objectives: To assess children undernutrition and associated factors among age 6-23 months in
Dilla zuriya woreda, Gedeo zone, South Ethiopia.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study involving 612 mother/child pair from Dilla
zuriya woreda was conducted from February 25 to March 26/2015. A two-stage cluster sampling
technique was employed. A pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire
consisting of demographic and socio-economic characteristics, children and maternal factors and
anthropometric measurement was used to gather data. WHO Anthro software version 2.0 to and
SPSS software version 20 was used for analysis. A descriptive statistics chi-square, bivariate
logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were applied for the final analysis.
Result: 612 mothers having children age 6-23 months were participated making a response rate
of 98.4%. Prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight was found to be 14.1%, 31% and
13.1%, respectively. Maternal common mental disorder was positively associated with
underweight. Mother’s autonomy was inversely associated with wasting and underweight.
Furthermore, child’s age, father’s occupation and wealth index were also made associated with
underweight. Mother’s age, child’s age and mother’s body mass index are associated factors with
Wasting. In addition, Stunting is associated with breast feeding frequency within 24 hours, fever
episode within 2 weeks & minimum meal frequency.
Conclusion: This study indicates that under nutrition to be a major health problem among
children age 6-23 months in the study area. High level of maternal common mental disorder and
level of autonomy were found to be an intermediate factor for a child undernutrition. Therefore,
determinant risk factors need a multidisciplinary approach to develop preventive strategies
towards child under nutrition.
