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 204 |
Categories: Health


Other articles

The Challenges Facing Children Reunified With Their Families From an Orphanage in Ghana

This qualitative case study explores the challenges facing children reunified with their families from an orphanage in Ghana.…

Read more

Orphan adolescents' lifeworlds on school-based psychosocial support

Psychosocial support is an indispensable need of human life and a basic right of all children. Orphan adolescents in this…

Read more

Orphanage tourism and the convention on the rights of the child.

This chapter argues that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a useful lens through which to…

Read more

Effect of Spirulina platensis Supplementation on Nutritional and Biochemical Parameters of Under Five Years Malnourished Children from an Orphanage in Douala, Cameroon

Malnutrition is the underlying cause of 50% of morbidity and mortality in the under-five age group. Its frequencies have…

Read more