Determinants of Nutritional Status of Under-Five Children in Ethiopia: With Particular Reference to Anelmoworeda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region

Malnutrition is one of leading problem which affect children well-being and growth in the study area as well as in Ethiopia. However, insufficient scientific knowledge limits to understand the factors of nutritional status at community level for adequate intervention. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the determinants of nutritional status of under-five children in Anlemo Woreda to tackle the malnutrition problems. A Purposive sampling followed by random sampling procedure was employed to draw 330 sample households from four Kebeles. A household survey was undertaken using structured questionnaires. Different characteristics of the households were investigated; anthropometric measurement of children was also measured. The data were analyzed using SPSS.v.22, for descriptive statistics, STATA14 for multivariate probit regression analysis and WHO anthrop v.3.2.2 software to convert raw nutritional data into Z-scores. The result of multivariate probit analyses revealed that age of household head, water source, land size, complementary feeding, antenatal care, toilet, time elapse to fetch water and livestock ownership were significant and associated with child stunting. Sex of child, toilet, income, and source water was found to be significant and associated with child wasting, and child age, family size, livestock ownership, income and water source were significant and associated with underweight. The findings of this study revealed that the prevalence of stunting of children is 42.4%, underweight 16.1% and wasting 9.7% respectively. The Prevalence of stunting and wasting among children aged 6-59 months is relatively high but underweight is lower than national and regional prevalence. Malnutrition puts substantial burden on under five children in AnlemoWoreda. Local government of the Hadiya Zone and AnlemoWoreda Health Institution should design effective nutritional implementation on child stunting and wasting is a vital task for the community to reduce malnutrition.