Berr Nina, Nigatu Yemisrach, Dereje Nebiyu
Department of Medicine, Myungsung Medical College/Myungsung Christian Medical Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Department of Public Health, Myungsung Medical College/Myungsung Christian Medical Center, P.O.Box 14972, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
BMC Nutr. 2021 Apr 26;7(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40795-021-00431-5.
Childhood undernutrition is a global problem contributing to more than a third of under-five mortality. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) fare worse than children living with their parents. However, the nutritional and healthcare needs of OVC are under-recognized in Ethiopia.
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among OVC aged 6 to 59 months. Multi-stage sampling technique was applied to select the households and eligible children included in the study (n = 584). An interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were carried out. The proportions of stunting, wasting and underweight were determined based on the WHO Z-score cut-off. Factors associated with stunting were identified by Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis.
The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 35.1% (95% CI; 31.3-39.1%), 4.7% (95% CI; 3.2-6.7%) and 12.0% (95% CI; 9.6-14.9%), respectively. Stunting was significantly associated with initiation of complementary feeding after 12 months of age (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI 1.16-14.11), household food insecurity (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI 1.10-3.17), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI 1.03-3.42), age ≥ 2 years (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.25-2.67), caretaker's age ≤ 25 years (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.03-2.16) and employment of the caretaker (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.03-2.26).
The prevalence of all forms of undernutrition among OVC was significantly higher than the national estimate that has been reported by consecutive Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). Policy makers and programmers working on nutritional interventions should give due emphasis to address the unmet need of OVC and focus on interventions which enhance household food security and caretaker's awareness on child feeding and pregnancy planning.
儿童营养不良是一个全球性问题，导致超过三分之一的五岁以下儿童死亡。孤儿和弱势儿童（OVC）的情况比与父母生活在一起的儿童更糟。然而，在埃塞俄比亚，OVC的营养和医疗需求未得到充分认识。
对6至59个月大的OVC进行了一项基于社区的横断面研究。采用多阶段抽样技术选择研究中的家庭和符合条件的儿童（n = 584）。进行了访谈式问卷调查和人体测量。根据世界卫生组织的Z评分临界值确定发育迟缓、消瘦和体重不足的比例。通过多变量二元逻辑回归分析确定与发育迟缓相关的因素。
发育迟缓、消瘦和体重不足的患病率分别为35.1%（95%置信区间；31.3 - 39.1%）、4.7%（95%置信区间；3.2 - 6.7%）和12.0%（95%置信区间；9.6 - 14.9%）。发育迟缓与12个月龄后开始添加辅食（调整后比值比[AOR]=3.61；95%置信区间1.16 - 14.11）、家庭粮食不安全（AOR = 1.90；95%置信区间1.10 - 3.17）、意外怀孕（AOR = 1.90；95%置信区间1.03 - 3.42）、年龄≥2岁（AOR = 1.80；95%置信区间1.25 - 2.67）、照顾者年龄≤25岁（AOR = 1.50；95%置信区间1.03 - 2.16）以及照顾者的就业情况（AOR = 1.50；95%置信区间1.03 - 2.26）显著相关。
OVC中所有形式营养不良的患病率显著高于埃塞俄比亚连续人口与健康调查（EDHS）报告的全国估计值。致力于营养干预的政策制定者和项目规划者应适当重视满足OVC未得到满足的需求，并专注于加强家庭粮食安全以及提高照顾者对儿童喂养和怀孕计划认识的干预措施。
