Magnitude and determinants of stunting in children underfive years of age in food surplus region of Ethiopia: The case of West Gojam Zone

Abstract

Background: Child malnutrition is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, the highest level of stunting is found in food surplus areas of the country. Objective: To identify the determinants of stunting in food surplus areas of West Gojam Zone. Method: A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 622 mother-child pairs of 0-59 month old children in Mecha and Wenberma Woredas of West Gojam Zone, Northern Ethiopia between May and June 2006. The study investigated the differential impact of demographic and socio-economic factors, health related factors and dietary factors on stunting among under-five children. Both bivariate analysis and multivariate analysis (logistic regression model) were used to identify the determinants of under-five stunting. Results: The analyses revealed that 43.2 (12.0-17.6) 95% CI percent of the children under age five were suffering from chronic malnutrition, 14.8 (39.3-47.1) 95% CI percent were acutely malnourished and 49.2 (45.3-53.1) 95% CI percent were found to be under-weight. The main contributing factors for under-five stunting were found to be sex of the child, child's age, diarrhea episode, deprivation of colostrum, duration of breastfeeding, pre-lacteal feeds, type of food, age of introduction of complementary feeding and method of feeding. Conclusion:The findings of this study led to the realization that inappropriate feeding practice is the principal risk factor which brought about nutritional deprivation among under-five children in food surplus areas of Ethiopia. Thus, the importance of appropriate feeding during infancy and childhood cannot be overstated even in food surplus areas. The high prevalence of malnutrition in the study area points out the need to revisit the impression held by many people that malnutrition is not a problem in food surplus areas. Development and implementation of preventive policies aimed at addressing child malnutrition should also consider food surplus areas of the country. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2009;23(2):98-106]

Maternal perception of sickness as a risk factor of stunting in children aged 2-5 years

“…The present study is in agreement with previous studies stating that children who were breastfed for less than 24 months were more at risk for stunting, as compared to children who were breastfed for at least 24 months. (16,17) However, the present study is not in line with the study by Kamal which showed that breastfeeding for less than 24 months is not a risk factor for the prevalence of stunting. (18) Weaning is a term used to refer to the transition period in which infants still receive liquid food, either breast milk or formula milk, but are also gradually introduced to solid food.…”

Prognostic factors affecting outcome of hospitalised infants 1-6 months with severe acute malnutrition in North India

“…17 As shown in previous studies the relationship of occurrence of severe acute malnutrition was strongly associated with introduction of pre-lacteal feed. 18,19 In present study out of 115 infants 38 (33.04%) were given pre-lacteal feed, out of which, on outcome 18 (14.78%) still remain in SAM showing statistical significance. With-holding colostrum is a risk factors for underweight at six months of age as in our study, infants that fed colostrum had better nutritional status than those who didn't which is consistent with previous studies.…”

Analysis of Hospital Records on Treatment Outcome of Severe Acute Malnutrition: The Case of Gondar University Tertiary Hospital

“…The immediate causes of malnutrition and child death are mutually reinforcing conditions of inadequate dietary intake and infectious disease [3,[7][8][9].…”

“…Nearly half (44%) under the age of five years old children were stunted, 10% wasted and 29% underweight. Stunting and wasting rates were even higher among rural children [7,10]. This study therefore is aimed to determine treatment outcome of SAM and identify its associated factors among under-five year children who were admitted and treated in Gondar University tertiary Hospital.…”