Stunting and Its Determinants among Adolescent Girls: Findings from the Nutrition Surveillance Project, Northwest Ethiopia

Amare Tariku, Aysheshim Kassahun Belew, Kedir Abdela Gonete, Melkamu Tamir Hunegnaw, Esmael Ali Muhammad, Getu Debalkie Demissie, Gashaw Andargie Biks, Tadesse Awoke, Kassahun Alemu Gelaye, Ejigu Gebeye Zeleke, Zegeye Abebe, Azeb Atnafu Gete, Melkie Edris Yesuf, Solomon Mekonnen Abebe, Yigzaw Kebede Gete, Abebaw Addis Gelagay, Abel Fekadu, Kindie Fentahun Muchie, Molla Mesele Wassie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Under nutrition among adolescents is a major public health problem in Ethiopia and its causes are under investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting and its determinants among adolescent girls in Dabat district. A total of 1556 adolescent girls were included in the study. The WHO’s Anthro-plus software was used to generate the height for age z-scores. Variables having a p-value<0.2 in the simple logistic regression were entered into multiple logistic regression and a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. About 47.4%(95%CI; 45.0, 49.6%) of adolescent girls were stunted. Being in the early (AOR = 0.027, 95%CI: 0.08, 0.09) and middle age (AOR = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.06, 0.71) were less likely to be stunted compared with the late adolescent. The odds of stunting were found to be higher among adolescent of rural area (AOR = 1.45; 95%CI: 1.01, 2.10) and from household food in-secured (AOR = 1.33; 95%CI: 1.02, 1.73)families. Higher numbers of adolescent girls are stunted in Dabat district, suggesting severe public health importance of the problem. Age, residence and food security were associated with adolescent stunting. Thus, improving food security strategies targeting rural and food insecure households is recommended. Abbreviations: AOR= Adjusted Odd Ratio,CI= Confidence Interval, COR= Crude Odd Ratio, ENSSPI=Establishing Nutrition Surveillance System and Piloting Interventions HAZ=Height for Age, HDSS=Health and Demographic Surveillance System, HFSS=Household Food Security Status, INDEPTH=International Network of Demographic Evaluation of Population and Their Health, IQR=Inter Quartile Range, NNP=National Nutrition Program, NSHFP=National School Health and Feeding Program, SPSS=Statically Package for Social Science, WHO= World Health Organization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)481-494
Number of pages14
JournalEcology of Food and Nutrition
Volume58
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Sept 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The study fund was obtained from the University of Gondar. The views presented in the article are of the author and not necessarily express the views of the funding organization. The University of Gondar was not involved in the design of the study, data collection, analysis, and interpretation The authors would like to thank all respondents for their willingness to participate in the study. They are also grateful to the University of Gondar and Dabat ENSSPI site for financial and material support, correspondingly.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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