Peer-reviewed article
Stunting and Underweight, but not Wasting are Associated with Delay in Child Development in Southwest Ethiopia
Abdu Oumer, Tadele Girum, Zinash Fikre, Jemal Bedewi, Keyredin Nuriye et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined the relationship between malnutrition and developmental delays in 507 children aged 12-59 months in southwest Ethiopia. About 29% of children showed developmental delays, measured across gross motor, communication, problem-solving, personal-social, and fine motor skills. Stunting and underweight were significantly associated with developmental delay, but wasting was not. The study found that working mothers, preterm births, early introduction of complementary feeding, and low dietary diversity also predicted developmental delays.
Key points
- 29.4% of children had developmental delays, with gross motor skills most affected (17.2%)
- Stunting increased odds of developmental delay by 3-fold (AOR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.9-4.7)
- Underweight increased odds of developmental delay 2.3-fold (AOR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.7)
- Wasting was not significantly associated with developmental delay
- Low dietary diversity score tripled the odds of developmental delay (AOR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.3-7.5)
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional community survey that cannot establish causality between malnutrition and developmental delay, only association. The study was conducted in one zone of southwest Ethiopia, limiting generalisability to other regions.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stimulating care during childhood is the foundation for optimal health, learning, productivity, and social well-being throughout the life course. In addition, malnutrition is a major public health concern affecting up to half of children under-five years in Ethiopia. However, evidence on the causal contribution of malnutrition to delay in child development is poorly understood in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To identify the relationship between different forms of malnutrition and delay in child development among children in Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based survey was conducted among 507 randomly selected mother-child pairs in the Guraghe Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. A pretested tool and validated anthropometric measurements were used. Anthropometric indices (WFH, WFA, and HFA) were calculated in Anthros software. The data were summarized in mean, median, standard deviation, tables and charts. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression (stepwise backward regression) models were fitted with nutritional status (wasting, stunting and underweight) and other potential factors associated with delay in child developmental. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p-values were reported. RESULTS: A total of 507 mother-child (12-59 months) pairs were included in the survey (97% response rate). The mean ASQ-3 score was 150 (± 23.4), with a minimum and maximum score of 45 and 270, respectively. A total of 149 (29.4%; 95% CI: 25.4-33.4) children had developmental delays, where 17.2%, 16.8%, 13.4%, 10.8%, and 10.1% had delays in gross motor, communication, problem-solving, personal-social, and fine motor skills, respectively. Children of working mothers (AOR=2.9; 1.8, 4.8), preterm births (AOR=3.2; 1.4, 7.0), early initiation of complementary feeding (AOR=2.5; 1.37, 4.6), stunting (AOR=3.0; 1.9, 4.7), underweight (AOR= 2.3; 1.1, 4.7) and low dietary diversity score (AOR=3.1; 1.3, 7.5), were predictors of developmental delay. CONCLUSION: Child development delay is a public health concern and it is strongly associated with stunting, underweight, undiversified dietary consumption, and suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Comparison of developmental outcomes by nutritional status (stunting, underweight, wasting) and feeding practices
- Population
- 507 mother-child pairs with children aged 12-59 months in Guraghe Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
Key finding
Stunting associated with 3-fold increase in developmental delay (AOR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.9-4.7)