Determinants of Stunting among Children Aged 6-23 Months of Age in Pastoral Community, Afar Region, Ethiopia: Unmatched Case-Control Study

Getahun Fentaw Mulaw; Omer Seid Adem; Abate Bekele Belachew

doi:10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.04.6

Authors

Getahun Fentaw Mulaw Department of Public Health, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia
Omer Seid Adem Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
Abate Bekele Belachew Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2020.09.04.6

Keywords:

Afar, Case-control, Children aged 6-23 months, Ethiopia, Golina district, Pastoralist, Stunting.

Abstract

Background: Globally, stunting is a public health concern, more of in developing counties, including Ethiopia. Once occurred, in the first two years of life, it is irreversible and has long-lasting harmful consequences. Exploring the determinants has pivotal importance for evidence-based interventions. Therefore, the rationale of this study was to identify determinants of stunting among children aged 6-23 months in the pastoralist community, Afar region, Ethiopia.

Method: A community-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 381 (cases=126, controls 255) study participants from February 15/2017 to March 30/2017. Cases and controls were identified consecutively using the world health organization growth monitoring chart.

Data was collected by interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05 in the final multivariable logistic regression model.

Result: Maternal education (AOR:0.34, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.77), maternal under-nutrition (AOR:2.91, 95% CI:1.51, 5.60), number of under-five children within the household (AOR:2.66, 95% CI: 1.38, 5.10), latrine ownership (AOR:0.28, 95% CI:0.15, 0.55), minimum Dietary Diversity score of children (AOR:0.41, 95% CI:0.22, 0.75), child age (AOR:1.76, 95% CI:1.01, 3.09), colostrum intake (AOR:3.03, 95%CI:1.62, 5.66), and exclusively breastfeed for the first six months (AOR:3.20, 95% CI:1.72,5.95) were found to be determinants of stunting.

Conclusion: This study found that determinants of childhood stunting are multifactorial. Maternal, household and child-related characteristics are associated with childhood stunting. Therefore, to improve childhood nutritional status, inter-sectoral collaboration and commitment are vital.

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