ABSTRACT
Background: Child malnutrition is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Surprisingly; the highest level of stunting is found in food surplus areas of the country. Objective: To identify the determinants of stunting in food surplus areas of West Gojam Zone. Method: A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 622 mother-child pairs of 0-59 month old children in Mecha and Wenberma Woredas of West Gojam Zone; Northern Ethiopia between May and June 2006. The study investigated the differential impact of demographic and socio-economic factors; health related factors and dietary factors on stunting among under-five children. Both bivariate analysis and multivariate analysis (logistic regression model) were used to identify the determinants of under-five stunting. Results: The analyses revealed that 43.2 (12.0-17.6) 95CI percent of the children under age five were suffering from chronic malnutrition; 14.8 (39.3-47.1) 95CI percent were acutely malnourished and 49.2 (45.3-53.1) 95CI percent were found to be under-weight. The main contributing factors for under-five stunting were found to be sex of the child; child's age; diarrhea episode; deprivation of colostrum; duration of breastfeeding; pre-lacteal feeds; type of food; age of introduction of complementary feeding and method of feeding. Conclusion: The findings of this study led to the realization that inappropriate feeding practice is the principal risk factor which brought about nutritional deprivation among under-five children in food surplus areas of Ethiopia. Thus; the importance of appropriate feeding during infancy and childhood cannot be overstated even in food surplus areas. The high prevalence of malnutrition in the study area points out the need to revisit the impression held by many people that malnutrition is not a problem in food surplus areas. Development and implementation of preventive policies aimed at addressing child malnutrition should also consider food surplus areas of the country
Subject(s)
Epidemiologic Factors , MalnutritionABSTRACT
A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out to compare childcare practices and nutritional status of children aged 6-36 months in Mwembesongo and Mjimpya wards that had long and short experiences respectively with the Child Survival; Protection and Development (CSPD) programme. The purpose of the study was to establish whether the long-term implementation of the CSPD programme had an impact compared to that of a short-term programme. The findings showed that the children from Mwembesongo were exclusively breast-fed for a significantly longer period (50 days) than those in the Mjimpya ward (32 days) and that significantly more mothers (95.7) in Mwembesongo than in Mjimpya (84.5) attended growth monitoring programmes. On the other hand; significantly more mothers in Mjimpya (71.5) compared to those in Mwembesongo (51.8) breast-fed immediately (less than one hour) after birth. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in children's nutritional status (wasting and underweight) between the two wards; except for stunting. More children in Mwembesongo (39.7) than in Mjimpya (27.5) were stunted. The findings have demonstrated that financial capacity to support children's food and care requirements forms a springboard from which to launch additional efforts for improved nutritional status