Abstract:
Introduction: Nutritional disorders are among the main causes of morbidity and
mortality. Stunting and wasting was one of the disorders that cause for many child
deaths. Every minute of every day, four children die because of malnutrition in the
World. Stunting and wasting varies from country to country and region to region
depending on economic, ecological, social, and other factors. In Ethiopia at present the
most serious nutritional problems are mainly due to low intake of food. High stunting
and wasting rate in the country causes significant obstacle to achieving better child
health outcome.
Objective: To assess prevalence of stunting and wasting and associated factors among
children aged 6-59 months, in East Belesa, Northwest Ethiopia.
Method: A cross-sectional community based study design was conducted from April 1
to 16, 2014 in East Belesa. Multistage systematic sampling was used. A total of 633
from 6-59 month age children were assessed. Pre tested structured questionnaire and
anthropometric measurement were used. Filled questionnaires was checked for
completeness, cleaned manually, coded and entered in to EPI INFO version 3.5.3
statistical software and then transferred to SPSS windows version 20.0 for analysis.
ENA for SMART 2011 software was used to convert nutritional data into Z-scores of the
indices; Height-for-age, weight-for-height. The degree of association between
independent and dependent variables was assessed by using odds ratio with 95%
confidence interval and p-value.
Result The prevalence of stunting and wasting were 57.7 % and16% respectively.
The main associated factors of stunting were found to be child age, family monthly
income, Child receive pre-lacteal feeds and age of mothers at first birth. Butter as a pre
lacteal food was the only variable associated with wasting.
Conclusion The rural population of East Belesa, Ethiopia suffers from a high rate of
stunting and wasting manifested primarily by stunting (height for age), reflecting a state
of chronic malnutrition and wasting (weight for height) acute malnutrition. Thereforeespecial
attention should be given on intervention of stunting and wasting.
