Background: Despite the decline in the rate of stunting in Ethiopia, the prevalence is still high and needs immense efforts to achieve the target set to reduce the prevalence. It varies between localities due to individual level factors and dominant livelihood practice in the community. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stunting and identify factors associated with it in Sodo Zuria district in South Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 342 children aged 6-59 months paired with mothers/caretakers. Households were selected using systematic sampling. Structured questionnaire was used and mothers/caregivers were interviewed face to face. Standardized anthropometric measurements were used to measure length, and weight and height of a child. Data were entered into Epi Info software version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Height for age Z score data were analyzed using WHO Anthro software. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictor variables. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of stunting in this study was 24.9% with 7.9% being severely stunted. Being female (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 5.3), children aged 12-23 months (AOR = 7.1; 95% CI: 2.3, 21.9), mother's who do not use family planning (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.1,5.7), children with diarrheal morbidity (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2,5.3), income of 750-1500 ETB and > 1500, and children who received pre-lacteal feeding (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.2-12.2) became predictors for stunting. Conclusion: Significant proportion of stunting was found where one third of them were severely stunted. Being female, children aged 12-23 months, using family planning, children with diarrheal morbidity, income and pre-lacteal feeding became predictors for stunting. So Gender-based policies should be enacted in child feeding practice, interventions should focus on the utilization of family planning and appropriate child caring and feeding practices. Water, sanitation and hygiene interventions need to be strengthened.

BackgroundIn low income countries, many low birth weight newborns often miss the chance for survival sooner or later. Others who survive would also face increased risks in later life. Though not adequately documented in Ethiopia, maternal factors pose the main risk. This study was aimed to estimate the proportion of low birth weight among term singletons without congenital malformations and factors associated with it in Wolaita Sodo town in South Ethiopia.MethodsWe did a facility based survey involving 432 postpartum women with their term newborns. Data was collected through face to face interview from March to April in 2016. The outcome measure was newborn birth weight. Bivariate logistic regression was applied to look for crude associations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to adjust for potential confounders to identify independent predictors. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and statistical significance at P < 0.05 were reported.ResultsThe proportion of term low birth weight was 8.1% in the study area. Women who had less education (AOR = 6.23; 95% CI = 1.68, 23.1), house wives (AOR = 5.85; 95% CI = 1.40, 24.3) and not frequently consuming fruits during pregnancy (AOR 11.3; 95% CI = 1.98, 64.9) had a higher risk of having term low birth weight newborns. We documented a lesser odds of those from rural settings to have low birth weight newborns as compared to their counter urban equivalents (AOR = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.006, 0.6).ConclusionsDietary counselling to pregnant mothers specific diet and nutrition including fruit diets in particular might contribute to reduce the risk of term low birth weight. Better education might have enabled women to prefer diets and their job engagements might also have capacitated them to decide on dietary preferences.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-018-1789-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectivesThe study aimed to determine the prevalence of wasting and underweight, and identify associated factors in Sodo Zuria district in South Ethiopia.ResultsThe prevalence of wasting and underweight were 11.1% and 14.0%, respectively. Wasting was significantly associated with male gender, diarrheal morbidity 2 weeks prior to the study and early initiation of complementary feeding. Predictors of underweight were diarrheal morbidity 2 weeks prior to the study and paternal illiteracy. The prevalence of wasting and underweight among under-five children is common in the study area. Diarrheal morbidity was associated with both wasting and underweight. Interventions targeting prevention of diarrheal morbidity through hygienic practices and creating awareness on infant feeding practices need to be implemented in the study area.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3880-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction of complementary foods to infants is a common practice. However, according to recommended infant and young child feeding protocol the timing of introduction, frequency of feeding and the quality of diet are not appropriate. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the magnitude and identify the predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practice among mothers of children 6-23 months of age in Kedida Gamela district, southern Ethiopia. A community based cross sectional study was conducted among mothers of children aged 6-23 months on March 2017. A total of 777 randomly selected mothers/caregivers paired with their children aged 6-23 months were interviewed by trained nurses. Data were entered, cleaned and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analyses were done for main variables. Exposures with p-value less than 0.25 on bivariate analysis were taken for multivariate analysis. Statistical significance was declared at p<0.05 and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was reported. The proportion of appropriate complementary feeding was 21% in the study area. Maternal age 18-24 years [AOR=4.01,95% CI (1.78, 9.04)], mothers with children 6-11 months of age [AOR=2.88, 95% CI (1.68, 4.94)] and 12-23 months of age [AOR=2.67, 95% CI (1.61, 4.45)], mothers who attended postnatal care follow up [AOR=2.14, 95% CI (1.14, 4.02)], and living in a food secure household [AOR=2.23, 95% CI (1.30, 3.82)] were the factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice. Mothers in the age range of 18-24 years, mothers having children of 6-11 months and 12-23 months of age, attending postnatal care follow up and living in a food secure household were the predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practice. Mothers should be encouraged to attend postnatal care follow up and income generating activity should be made to assure household food security status to prevent economical vulnerability of households.

Background Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable stages of life in which malnutrition inhibits academic performance through poor growth and development, mental retardation, poor overall cognitive function and poor health status. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the association between nutritional status and academic performance among adolescent students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association of nutritional status and academic performance among adolescent secondary school students in Wolaita Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 670 systematically selected adolescents in secondary schools of Wolaita Sodo town from April to June 2019. The academic performance of the adolescents was measured using the mean mark score of two consecutive semesters’ results of all subjects. Data were analyzed using Stata software Version 15. Descriptive statistics, binary and multiple linear regression analysis were done. Statistical association of dependent and independent variables was declared at p-value < 0.05. Results The mean academic performance of students was 69.21 ± 0.42 (95% CI: 68.34–70.02%). A mean mark score of students increased by 1.89 (β = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.14, 2.64) for a unit increase in BMI for age z-score. Being female decreased a mean mark score by 2.63 (β = − 2.63; 95%CI: − 4.28, − 0.98) and being from a separated parents decreased by 4.73 (β = − 4. 73; 95%CI: − 6.73, − 2.74). A mean mark score of students from the first wealth class decreased by 9.92 (− 9.92; 95%CI: − 12.79, − 7.04) as compared to students from the highest wealth class. Attending private schools increased the mean mark score of students by 4.18 (β = 4.18; 95% CI: 2.46, 5.90). Conclusions Interventions targeted at adolescents’ nutritional status should be designed and implemented. The town education office and concerned bodies should launch a school feeding program for public schools. Development and income generation activities should target households in the first wealth status. Schools are recommended to design additional teaching and learning schemes such as tutorial classes for girl students.