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Prevalence of stunting and associated factors among primary school children of Dagahbur city, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Amin Ugas Mahad1*, Abdiwahab Hashi1, Mukhtar Omar1, Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim1 · 2 Feb 2026

Abstract

Abstract Background Globally, childhood stunting remains a major public health concern. It is estimated that approximately 165 million children under five years of age are affected worldwide. Stunting has been associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including increased susceptibility to infections, higher risk of mortality, delayed physical and cognitive development, reduced learning capacity, poor academic performance, and decreased productivity in adulthood. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the determinants of stunting among primary school children in Dagahbur City, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2019 among 354 primary school children aged 5–14 years. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard procedures. Height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) were generated using WHO AnthroPlus software, and stunting was defined as HAZ < -2 standard deviations. Data on socio-demographic, environmental, and child-related factors were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to parents or caregivers. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with stunting, and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results The prevalence of stunting among primary school children was 8.5% (95% CI: 5.6–11.3). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, stunting was significantly associated with sex of the child (AOR = 3.65; 95% CI: 1.35–9.85), birth order (AOR = 7.01; 95% CI: 1.98–24.84), husband’s occupation (AOR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.44), water availability (AOR = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.01–0.21), source of drinking water (AOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08–0.70), and liquid waste disposal practices (AOR = 5.47; 95% CI: 1.73–17.30). Conclusion The prevalence of stunting among primary school children in Dagahbur City was relatively low but remains a public health concern. Stunting was significantly associated with child sex, birth order, household occupation, water availability, drinking water source, and liquid waste disposal. These findings highlight the need for integrated nutrition-sensitive interventions focusing on water, sanitation, and household socio-economic conditions to address nutritional inequities among school-aged children.