Peer-reviewed article
Exploring the prevalence and determinants of stunting among children under 5 in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional analysis of the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey.
Merera AM, Huluka TY, Wordofa EA ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study analyzed data from 5,126 Ethiopian children under 5 to identify risk factors for stunting, which affected 36.9% of this population. Stunting prevalence varied dramatically by region, from 9.6% in Addis Ababa to 49% in Tigray. Key protective factors included household wealth, maternal education, breastfeeding, rural-to-urban residence, and vitamin A supplementation. The findings highlight that stunting in Ethiopia is linked to socioeconomic factors, maternal education, and health practices rather than being inevitable.
Key points
- Stunting prevalence among Ethiopian children under 5 was 36.9%, with significant regional variation (9.6% to 49%)
- Maternal secondary or higher education reduced stunting odds by 66% compared to no education
- Children still breastfeeding had 74% lower odds of stunting than non-breastfeeding children
- Rural residence was associated with more than double the odds of stunting compared to urban areas
- Household wealth and vitamin A supplementation were significant protective factors against stunting
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional analysis and cannot establish causal relationships between identified factors and stunting. The study identifies associations at one point in time and cannot determine whether factors precede or follow the development of stunting.
Abstract
Objectives Malnutrition is a critical global health issue impacting children's growth, with nearly 45% of child deaths associated with undernourishment. The 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey reported a stunting prevalence of about 37% among children under 5, positioning Ethiopia among the countries with the highest stunting prevalence. This study aimed to identify risk factors for stunting among children under 5 in Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 21 to June 28, 2019, enrolling 5126 children aged 0 to 59 mo through a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with stunting, including variables with P values less than 0.2 from bivariate analysis in the multivariable analysis. Variables with P values less than 0.05 indicated significance. Results The prevalence of stunting among children under 5 in Ethiopia was 36.9%. Tigray had the highest prevalence of stunting (49%), whereas Addis Ababa had the lowest (9.6%). Multivariable logistic regression revealed several risk factors: rich households (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.451, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.123-0.931), middle-income households (AOR, 0.625, 95% CI, 0.345-0.725), mothers with secondary and higher education (AOR, 0.336, 95% CI, 0.252-0.937), primary education (AOR, 0.781, 95% CI, 0.231-0.872), child still breastfeeding (AOR, 0.261, 95% CI, 0.165-0.742), rural residence (AOR, 2.105, 95% CI, 1.415-3.471), and vitamin A supplementation (AOR, 0.841, 95% CI, 0.126-0.963). Other significant factors included child age, number of children under 5, vaccination status, water source, birth interval, and region. Conclusions Stunting remains a significant issue in Ethiopia, influenced by factors such as household wealth, maternal education, place of residence, and health practices. Policymakers must address these determinants to enhance nutritional outcomes in Ethiopia.