Nutritional status among orphans and vulnerable children aged 6 to 59 months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract


Background: Childhood undernutrition is a global problem contributing to more than a third of under-five mortality. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) fare worse than children living with their parents. However, the nutritional and healthcare needs of OVC are under-recognized in Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among OVC aged 6 to 59 months. Multi-stage sampling technique was applied to select the households and eligible children included in the study (n = 584). An interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were carried out. The proportions of stunting, wasting and underweight were determined based on the WHO Z-score cut-off. Factors associated with stunting were identified by Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 35.1% (95% CI; 31.3–39.1%), 4.7% (95% CI; 3.2–6.7%) and 12.0% (95% CI; 9.6–14.9%), respectively. Stunting was significantly associated with initiation of complementary feeding after 12 months of age (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI 1.16–14.11), household food insecurity (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI 1.10–3.17), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 1.90; 95% CI 1.03–3.42), age ≥ 2 years (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.25–2.67), caretaker’s age ≤ 25 years (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.03–2.16) and employment of the caretaker (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.03–2.26). Conclusion: The prevalence of all forms of undernutrition among OVC was significantly higher than the national estimate that has been reported by consecutive Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). Policy makers and programmers working on nutritional interventions should give due emphasis to address the unmet need of OVC and focus on interventions which enhance household food security and caretaker’s awareness on child feeding and pregnancy planning.



Nina Berr Yemisrach Nigatu Nebiyu Dereje | source: BMC Nutrition 205 |
Categories: Health


Other articles

Oral and Dental Health Status in Orphan Children of Lucknow

Background: Orphans lack parental support and receive little oral health care. Therefore there is a propensity to develop…

Read more

Policy implications of the inadequate support systems for orphans in Western Kenya

This paper describes the support systems available for orphans in a rural Luo community in Nyang'oma sub-location in Bondo…

Read more

School absenteeism among orphans and vulnerable children in Lagos State, Nigeria: a situational analysis

Knowledge of factors associated with school absenteeism among orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who are at greater risk…

Read more

Bastards and Foundlings: Illegitimacy in Eighteenth-Century England

Demographers and historians refer to the eighteenth century as the “century of illegitimacy,”1 pointing out that “in every…

Read more