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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Determinants of child anthropometric indicators in Ethiopia

Authors: Davod Ahmadi, Ekta Amarnani, Akankasha Sen, Narges Ebadi, Patrick Cortbaoui, Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Malnutrition is one of the major contributors to child mortality in Ethiopia. Currently established, child nutrition status is assessed by four anthropometric indicators. However, there are other factors affecting children’s anthropometric statuses. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to explore some of the determinants of child anthropometric indicators in Ethiopia.

Methods

Data from GROW (the Growing Nutrition for Mothers and Children), a survey including 1261 mothers and 1261 children was carried out in Ethiopia in 2016. Based on the data gathered, the goal of GROW is to improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age (15–49), as well as boys and girls under 5 years of age in Ethiopia. In order to investigate the association between different factors and child anthropometric indicators, this study employs various statistical methods, such as ANOVA, T-test, and linear regressions.

Results

Child’s sex (confidence intervals for (wasting = − 0.782, − 0.151; stunting = − 0.936,-0.243) (underweight = − 0.530, − 0.008), child’s age (confidence intervals for (wasting = − 0.020, 0.007; stunting = − 0.042,-0.011) (underweight = − 0.025, − 0.002), maternal MUAC (confidence intervals for (wasting = 0.189, 0.985; BMI-for-age = 0.077, 0.895), maternal education (stunting = 0.095, 0.897; underweight = 0.120, 0.729), and open defecation (stunting = 0.055, 0.332; underweight = 0.042, 0.257) were found to be significantly associated with anthropometric indicators. Contrary to some findings, maternal dietary diversity does not present significance in aforementioned child anthropometric indicators.

Conclusion

Depending on the choice of children anthropometric indicator, different conclusions were drawn demonstrating the association between each factor to child nutritional status. Results showed child’s sex, age, region, open defecation, and maternal MUAC significantly increases the risk of child anthropometric indicators. Highlighting the factors influencing child undernutrition will help inform future policies and programs designed to approach this major problem in Ethiopia.
Footnotes
1
In the regression analyses, age was used in a scale level.
 
2
This question was used: Do any of your household members defecate in the bush/field? With yes and no answers.
 
3
Although this indicator is recommended for children under 24 months, children up to 59 were added in the analyses.
 
4
Normality of data was analyzed using SPSS (V.24). Table of data normality presented in Table 4.
 
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Metadata
Title
Determinants of child anthropometric indicators in Ethiopia
Authors
Davod Ahmadi
Ekta Amarnani
Akankasha Sen
Narges Ebadi
Patrick Cortbaoui
Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5541-3

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