TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors Associated with Child Malnutrition in the Somali Region of Ethiopia
T2 - a Cross-Sectional Survey
AU - Lee, Hyun jung
AU - Murimi, Mary W.
AU - Dawson, John A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - In Ethiopia, malnutrition contributes to more than one-third of under-five child deaths. This cross-sectional study aimed at identifying risk factors for child malnutrition by examining the role of underlying determinants such as food insecurity and water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions (WASH). A total of 116 households with under-five children in the Somali region of Ethiopia were recruited using a simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a questionnaire that assessed socioeconomic status, child anthropometrics, household food insecurity, dietary diversity, and WASH. SPSS version 24 and R version 3.5.1 were used to conduct analysis. Most (71.56%) of children were malnourished. A majority of households reported food insecurity (70.69%) and consumed a diet with limited dietary diversity (80.17%). Most households did not have access to improved drinking water sources (72.42%) and sanitation facilities (98.28%). Maternal self-employment status was a risk factor for child wasting (OR = 3.80, 95% CI [1.04, 13.84], p =.05) and underweight (OR = 4.90, 95% CI [1.58, 15.17], p =.01). Child wasting was associated with household income (OR =.62, 95% CI [.42,.91], p =.03) and open defecation (OR = 11.17, 95% CI [1.57, 79.39], p =.02). While low household dietary diversity was a risk factor for child stunting (OR = 5.33, 95% CI [1.85, 16.55], p <.01), maternal hand washing practices after defecation were a protective factor for child stunting (OR =.28, 95% CI [.12,.68], p =.01). These findings underscore the importance of developing an integrated approach between different sectors in Nutrition, Health, WASH, and Food Security for health promotion among young children.
AB - In Ethiopia, malnutrition contributes to more than one-third of under-five child deaths. This cross-sectional study aimed at identifying risk factors for child malnutrition by examining the role of underlying determinants such as food insecurity and water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions (WASH). A total of 116 households with under-five children in the Somali region of Ethiopia were recruited using a simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using a questionnaire that assessed socioeconomic status, child anthropometrics, household food insecurity, dietary diversity, and WASH. SPSS version 24 and R version 3.5.1 were used to conduct analysis. Most (71.56%) of children were malnourished. A majority of households reported food insecurity (70.69%) and consumed a diet with limited dietary diversity (80.17%). Most households did not have access to improved drinking water sources (72.42%) and sanitation facilities (98.28%). Maternal self-employment status was a risk factor for child wasting (OR = 3.80, 95% CI [1.04, 13.84], p =.05) and underweight (OR = 4.90, 95% CI [1.58, 15.17], p =.01). Child wasting was associated with household income (OR =.62, 95% CI [.42,.91], p =.03) and open defecation (OR = 11.17, 95% CI [1.57, 79.39], p =.02). While low household dietary diversity was a risk factor for child stunting (OR = 5.33, 95% CI [1.85, 16.55], p <.01), maternal hand washing practices after defecation were a protective factor for child stunting (OR =.28, 95% CI [.12,.68], p =.01). These findings underscore the importance of developing an integrated approach between different sectors in Nutrition, Health, WASH, and Food Security for health promotion among young children.
KW - Child malnutrition
KW - Food diversity
KW - Food security
KW - WASH
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110539519&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40609-021-00212-9
DO - 10.1007/s40609-021-00212-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85110539519
SN - 2196-8799
VL - 9
SP - 69
EP - 77
JO - Global Social Welfare
JF - Global Social Welfare
IS - 2
ER -