Prevalence and associated factors of underweight among children 6–59 months of age in Takusa district, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Background Most of the nearly 104 million underweight children in the world lived in South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in 2010. According to the 2014 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) report, 24 and 7% of children aged 6–59 months were underweight and severely underweight, respectively. Although appropriate child feeding and nutritional interventions reduce child illness and death, malnutrition remains a leading public health problem in Ethiopia. As literature on the issue is scarce in northwest Ethiopia, this study aimed at determining the prevalence of under-weight and associated factors in children 6–59 months of age in Takusa district, northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February, 2017, at Takusa district, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 645 subjects were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. Anthro software version 2.02 was used to determine the nutritional status of the children. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with underweight. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with the corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were used to show the strength of associations, and variables with P-values of 35 years), no antenatal follow up during pregnancy, and rural residence were significantly associated with underweight. Therefore, interventions targeting community management of acute malnutrition might be appropriate to manage the problem of underweight; efforts should also be intensified to reduce under-weight by focusing on identified determinants.

Keywords

• Underweight
• 6–59 months children
• Takusa
• Northwest
• Ethiopia