Factors driving underweight, wasting, and stunting among urban school aged children: Evidence from Merawi town, Northwest Ethiopia

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000586
• Publication Date: 2023-01-24T18:23:25Z
• Authors: Tilahun Tewabe; Md. Moustafa Kamal; Khorshed Alam; Ali Quazi; Majharul Talukder; Syeda Z. Hossain
• Keywords: Underweight

Prior research identified malnutrition as one of the most common causes morbidity and mortality among children globally. Furthermore, revealed that over two thirds deaths associated with inappropriate feeding practices occurred during early years life. Improper impact a child’s health in many different ways. However, on possible factors driving underweight, wasting, stunting school aged developing countries is limited, hence warrant further attention. Against this backdrop, strives to identify assess determinants wasting country-Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1, 2018 June 15, Merawi town, Ethiopia. An interviewer-administered questionnaire used collect data sample 422 children. Binary logistic regression technique performed examine effect each selected variable outcome measure. The prevalence being found be 5.7%, 9.8%, 10.4%, respectively. age child [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 12.930 (2.350, 71.157)] number [AOR 8.155 (1.312, 50.677)] were emerged key for gender significantly 0.455 (0.224, 0.927)]. Finally, 12.369 (2.522, 60.656)] predict risk stunting. This age, have significant association malnutrition. findings suggest improving young school-aged children, special attention should paid female those coming relatively large families.