Abstracto

Predictors for the prevalence of under-nutrition, wasting and stunting of 3 to 12 years school aged children in the Asella Luther Child Development Project - Oromiyaa, Ethiopia

Elema TB

Background: Malnutrition remains a major public health problem in developing countries. In Oromia region prevalence of child malnutrition indicated that 29.1% with 6.6% severe underweight, 14.1% of the children are wasted (3.5% severe wasting) and 53.6% of the children are stunted with 17.1% severe stunting. Primary school age is a dynamic period of physical and mental development. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) paid due attention to malnutrition, but still constant. Objective: The objective of the research was to determine the prevalence of undernutrition; Wasting and Stunting for children registered in Lutheran project and associated factors. Methods: Project based case studies of 384 children and cross sectional study design were applied to determine the magnitude of malnutrition using Semi-structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and clinical examination of 217 samples. Binary logistic regression was carried out, using Odds Ratio to determine the strength of predictors. Results: From socio-demographic characteristics 61.28% of the children moderate while 5.98% of them were extremely strong academically. Clinical examination showed only 9.4% of was moderately malnourished. 70.94 to 100% of the children were not taken the diphtheria tetanus, influenza diseases and hepatitis A vaccination. Based on Weight for Age, Height for Age and Weight for Height; 23%, children were severely undernutrition, 23% severely stunted and 16% severely wasted where 47%, 34% and 19% under a risk of undernutrition, stunting and wasting respectively. 60.68% of children were not received vitamin A regularly. Conclusion: Children who’s not completed Vitamin A Versus completed (AOR=1.298), completed vaccination (AOR=0.379), Female/male (AOR=2.533) underweight. The finding indicated that explanation of Z-score is important that explaining the malnutrition status of the children. Maternal/guardians educational status was associated with children’s underweight. Prevalence of malnutrition was occurred in less percent than the regional data. Breakfast is widely acknowledged to be the most important meal of the day and awareness creation also very important for the community to not miss breakfast possibly.