Wasting in under five children is significantly varied between rice producing and non-producing households of Libokemkem district, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Acute undernutrition (wasting) is a condition in which a child becomes too thin for his or her height because of weight loss or failure to gain weight. Wasted children have greater risk of morbidity and mortality compared to their normal counterparts. There are significant number of children in Africa and Asia who suffered from all forms of malnutrition. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of wasting and its associated factors among 6–59 months of age children in Libokemkem district, Amhara region of Ethiopia.

A community based cross-sectional study design was employed from June 1st to August 30th, 2017. A total of 876 households were selected using stratified multistage sampling technique. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect socio demographic and other characteristics of the participants. Anthropometric data from the children was collected using the procedure stipulated by World Health Organization/United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. Kebeles, the smallest administrative unit of the country, were stratified in to two groups based on the presence and absence of rice production program. Then, the children were selected randomly from the households that have been included by using systematic random sampling technique. To assure the quality of data, pretest was done on 5.00% of the total sample size. Data were coded and entered using Epi Info version 7 software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 software for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed to determine the significant association between independent and dependent variables. Binary logistic regression was run to identify candidate variable for multivariate logistic regression. Those variables with a p-value < 0.25 were entered in to multivariate analyses to check the association between independent and dependent variables. Significant association set at a p value < 0.05.

The total prevalence of acute malnutrition (wasting) was 7.10% and from this 2.50% were severely wasted. It was significantly higher among children in non-rice producing community at 11.80% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.90, 13.88) than rice producing one at 3.34% (95% CI: 1.60, 5.65). Children whose mothers had no power to decide how income earned is used (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.94, 95% CI: 2.12, 7.31), children who lived in areas with no rice production program (AOR = 3.16, 95% CI: 1.58, 6.33), children whose mother had no formal education (AOR = 3.64, 95% CI: 1.70, 7.79) were also significantly associated with wasting. Monthly income less than1500 Ethiopian birr (AOR = 4.14, 95% CI: 2.14, 7.99), presence of diarrheal disease for the last 15 days (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.64) and complementary food starting before 6 months (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.26, 5.42) significantly associated with wasting.

There was substantial difference between rice producing program and non-producing program communities with regarding to wasting. Children from rice producing program communities have better nutritional status than their counterparts. Intervention needs to be conducted on mother’s decision-making power over household income, mother’s education, and on the productive agricultural practices like improved rice producing programs.