Prevalence and Associated Factors of Stunting Among Children Aged Six Month - Five Year in Ataye Town, Northeast Ethiopia

Adequate nutrition is vital to children’s growth and development. Globally, about 155 million children were stunted. In Ethiopia, about half of child’s mortality was related to malnutrition. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting among children aged six month- five year in Ataye town, Northeast Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 415 children from March to April, 2018. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire and measurement was used to collect the data. Multivariate logistic analysis was used and variables with a P-value of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Overall, nearly half of children (48.4%) were stunted. Children with age group of 25-59 months (AOR= 1.9, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.23), being male (AOR=1.7,95% CI: 1.03, 2.89), non-exclusive breast feeding (AOR= 1.9,95% CI: 1.03, 3.51), maternal illiteracy (AOR= 2.4, 95% CI: 1.005-6.08), and getting monthly income of less than 500 Ethiopian birr (AOR= 3.2, 95% CI: 1.76-6.01) had statistically significant association with stunting. In Ataye town, the burden of stunting was significantly higher than the overall prevalence of stunting in Ethiopia as well as in Amhara region and it is continued as a major public health problem in Amhara region. Children aged between 2-5 years old, being male, non-exclusive breast feeding practice, maternal illiteracy, and low monthly income were independent predictors of stunting. Thus, this study underlines the need for increasing the awareness of mothers/caregivers about child feeding and the necessity of exclusive breast feeding in the first six months of life. Moreover, it requires collaborative activity from national and regional health office to reduce the burden of stunting.