Determinants of Nutritional Status in School-Aged Children in Mecha, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Globally, about 50 million children younger than age 5 years experience wasting; of these 16 million (2.4%) are severely wasted. In Ethiopia, about 9% of the children are severely underweight, 10% are wasted, and 3% are severely wasted. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors that could lead to underweight, stunting, and wasting among school-aged children in Mecha, northwest Ethiopia, along with their magnitude. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mecha, northwest Ethiopia from April 1, 2018, to June 15, 2018. The study enrolled 422 school-aged children. A pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Binary logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of underweight, wasting, and stunting were 5.8%, 10.8%, and 11.6%, respectively. Access to school-based feeding was significantly associated with a lower level of underweight (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.137; 95% CI, 0.020–0.921), and claimed decreased frequency of feeding during illness was associated with a higher level of wasting (AOR = 3.307; 95% CI, 1.025–10.670). Furthermore, younger age of the child (AOR = 16.721; 95% CI, 3.314–84.357), mother's age between 18 and 45 years (AOR = 3.474; 95% CI, 1.145–10.544), and increased frequency of feeding (AOR = 0.270; 95% CI, 0.098–0.749) were all associated with a lower level of stunting. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the lack of access to school-based feeding was associated with higher level of underweight, and claimed decreased frequency of feeding during illness was associated with wasting. In addition, older age of the child, increase in mother's age, and decreased frequency of feeding were associated with higher levels of stunting. The associations suggest that increased access to both school-based feeding and frequency of feeding might improve the nutritional status of school-aged Ethiopian children. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81:XXX–XXX) © 2020 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.