Stunting and Associated Factors Among 6-23 Months Age Children in Ethiopia: Application of Generalized Linear Latent and Mixed Modeling.

Abstract

Low height/length-for-age (stunting) is a public health problem in Ethiopia. Efforts that have been made to evaluate factors affecting national and international strategies related to the problem are very limited and poorly achieved. The present study aimed to evaluate low length/height-for-age (stunting) and its associated factors among children 6 to 23 months of age in Ethiopia. We used cross-sectional data collected for 2019 EMDHS. We cleaned, processed, and analyzed in Stata v.15. Socio-demographic, socio-economic parameters, and nutritional (wasting, diet frequency, breast milk, and animal milk) factors were used in the analysis. We fitted Generalized Linear Latent and Mixed Model (GLLAMM) to examine the associations. We analyzed the data of 2,037 children aged 6-23 months and found stunting of 933.07(45.80%). Some factors such as home delivery [coef. = -4.58, 95% CI:-7.81,-1.34] and household size of ≥6 [coef. = -5.53, 95% CI:-10.36,-7.10] were positively associated. No current breastfeeding [coef. = 10.70, 95% CI: 2.16, 19.23] and still breastfeed [coef. = 10.68, 95% CI: 2.62, 18.74] were negatively associated with stunting. Stunting among 6-23 months aged children in Ethiopia is very high above all the national, regional, and international targets. Feeding practice, socio-economic, and psychosocial-support for mothers need revised commitment for pragmatic solution.