Determinants of undernutrition among children aged 6-59 months during the COVID-19 pandemic: A hospital-based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

Sisay Abebe Debela; Dereje Sisay; Moti Negassa; Chala Daba; Yonatal Mesfin Tefera; Endashaw Abebe Debela; Girma Garedew Goyomsa; Amana Ogeto Luke; Mengistu Benayew Shiferaw; Melese Asmare; Mesfin Gebrehiwot

doi:10.1177/22799036231181174

Determinants of undernutrition among children aged 6-59 months during the COVID-19 pandemic: A hospital-based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

J Public Health Res. 2023 Jun 10;12(2):22799036231181174. doi: 10.1177/22799036231181174. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Salale University, Fitche, Ethiopia.
² Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health science, Mizant Tepi University, Ethiopia.
³ Tirunesh Beijing Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
⁵ Adelaide Exposure Science and Health, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
⁶ Department of Internal Medicine, Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia.
⁷ Department of Public Health, Rift Valley University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁸ Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: The public health problem of undernutrition is common in Ethiopia, particularly among children aged 6-59 months. However, determinants of undernutrition among children in this age group are not well investigated particularly within the context of COVID-19 pandemic. This study was, therefore, designed to assess the magnitude and determinants of undernutrition among children aged 6-59 months at Tirunesh Beijing general hospital, Ethiopia.

Methods and materials: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 283 children aged 6-59 months in March 2022. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Undernutrition was defined as a Z-score value of weight for height (WFH), height-for-age (HFA), and weight-for-age (WFA) <2SD as calculated by the world health organization plus software. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the independent factors associated with undernutrition. p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The response rate in this study was 97.9%. The overall magnitude of undernutrition was 34.3%, of which 21.2%, 12.7%, and 9.5% were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. Occupation of mothers [AOR = 13.64, 95% CI (4.21-14.77)], amount of meal [AOR = 14.68, 95% CI (4.09-52.81)], feeding by caregivers [AOR = 8.96, 95% CI (2.81-18.60)], and breastfeeding [AOR = 0.06, 95% CI (0.02-0.22)] were significant predictors of undernutrition.

Conclusions: The prevalence of undernutrition among children under the age of five remains high. Therefore, promoting breastfeeding and motivating children to feed adequate amount of meal are recommended. Besides, counseling and/or guiding caregivers on how to feed children shall be suggested. The findings could help inform the design and prioritization of effective intervention strategies at early life stage.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Undernutrition; stunting; under-five children; underweight; wasting.