Prevalence and Determinant of chronic malnutrition (stunting) amoung children aged 6 to 59 months in Logia Samara City Administration, Afar Region, Ethiopia: community-based Analytic Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Stunting affected an estimated 22.9 per cent or 154.8 million children under 5 globally. Africa and Asia bear the greatest share of chronic malnutrition (stunting). Malnutrition is related to about 41% (2.3 million) death of children with in age group of 6 to 24 months in developing countries. Objective Objective of this study is to assess prevalence and determinant of chronic malnutrition amoung children from 6 to 59 months old, Samara Logia city administration, Afar Region, Ethiopia from May 16 to July 20, 2019 Methods and Materials Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected kebeles of samara logia city administration, Afar Region. Children of age 6 to 59 months were included in the study. stratified sampling was used. Single population proportion formula ,5% non-response rate and design effect of 1.5 was used in calculation of total sample of 509. Data was collected using questionnaires after approval from Institutional Review Boards and responsible body. Result Result of the study revealed that the prevalence of stunting in the community was29.9%. Among stunted children, age group 24 to 35 months most affected 28.3% (43). children who were breast fed for less than 24 months were 3.485:95% C.I [2.519,7.941] times at risk of developing stunting when compared to children who were breast fed for more than 24 months. Frequency of breast feeding less than 8 times per day during exclusive breastfeeding was also associated with stunting 2.184:95%C. I [0.452, 6.178] than those breasts fed more than eight times per day. Birth order of above 3 was associated with stunting 4.57: 95%C. I [1.271,9.483] compared to birth order less than or equal to three. Wealth index 1st quartile was 3.425: 95%C. [I 2.492, 8.716] times at risk of developing stunting when compared to children whose family’s wealth was in the 4th quartile. Conclusions and Recommendations Stunting is more prevalent in female than males. Breast feeding child for less than 24 months, breast feeding child less than eight times per day during period of exclusive breast feeding, birth order greater than three and children of the families with lower wealth index were associated with stunting. based our finding we recommend that health education importance of breast feeding (period and frequency) should be given to community, the government should empower those who were disadvantaged economically. Key word: stunting, Afar Region, Ethiopia