Debela Sisay Abebe, Sisay Dereje, Negassa Moti, Daba Chala, Mesfin Tefera Yonatal, Debela Endashaw Abebe, Goyomsa Girma Garedew, Luke Amana Ogeto, Benayew Shiferaw Mengistu, Asmare Melese, Gebrehiwot Mesfin
Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Salale University, Fitche, Ethiopia.
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health science, Mizant Tepi University, Ethiopia.
J Public Health Res. 2023 Jun 10;12(2):22799036231181174. doi: 10.1177/22799036231181174. eCollection 2023 Apr.
The public health problem of undernutrition is common in Ethiopia, particularly among children aged 6-59 months. However, determinants of undernutrition among children in this age group are not well investigated particularly within the context of COVID-19 pandemic. This study was, therefore, designed to assess the magnitude and determinants of undernutrition among children aged 6-59 months at Tirunesh Beijing general hospital, Ethiopia.
An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 283 children aged 6-59 months in March 2022. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Undernutrition was defined as a Z-score value of weight for height (WFH), height-for-age (HFA), and weight-for-age (WFA) <2SD as calculated by the world health organization plus software. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the independent factors associated with undernutrition. p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
The response rate in this study was 97.9%. The overall magnitude of undernutrition was 34.3%, of which 21.2%, 12.7%, and 9.5% were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. Occupation of mothers [AOR = 13.64, 95% CI (4.21-14.77)], amount of meal [AOR = 14.68, 95% CI (4.09-52.81)], feeding by caregivers [AOR = 8.96, 95% CI (2.81-18.60)], and breastfeeding [AOR = 0.06, 95% CI (0.02-0.22)] were significant predictors of undernutrition.
The prevalence of undernutrition among children under the age of five remains high. Therefore, promoting breastfeeding and motivating children to feed adequate amount of meal are recommended. Besides, counseling and/or guiding caregivers on how to feed children shall be suggested. The findings could help inform the design and prioritization of effective intervention strategies at early life stage.
营养不良这一公共卫生问题在埃塞俄比亚很常见，尤其是在6至59个月大的儿童中。然而，该年龄组儿童营养不良的决定因素尚未得到充分研究，特别是在新冠疫情背景下。因此，本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚提鲁内什·北京综合医院6至59个月大儿童营养不良的严重程度及其决定因素。
2022年3月，开展了一项基于机构的横断面研究，纳入了283名6至59个月大的儿童。通过结构化问卷和人体测量收集数据。营养不良的定义为根据世界卫生组织及相关软件计算得出的身高别体重（WFH）、年龄别身高（HFA）和年龄别体重（WFA）的Z评分值<−2标准差。采用多变量逻辑回归模型来确定与营养不良相关的独立因素。p值小于0.05被认为具有统计学意义。
本研究的应答率为97.9%。营养不良的总体发生率为34.3%，其中发育迟缓、体重不足和消瘦的发生率分别为21.2%、12.7%和9.5%。母亲的职业[AOR = 13.64，95% CI（4.21 - 14.77）]、进餐量[AOR = 14.68，95% CI（4.09 - 52.81）]、照料者喂养情况[AOR = 8.96，95% CI（2.81 - 18.60）]以及母乳喂养情况[AOR = 0.06，95% CI（0.02 - 0.22）]是营养不良的显著预测因素。
五岁以下儿童营养不良的患病率仍然很高。因此，建议推广母乳喂养并鼓励儿童摄入足够的食物量。此外，应建议为照料者提供有关如何喂养儿童的咨询和/或指导。这些研究结果有助于为早期生命阶段有效干预策略的设计和优先排序提供参考。
