Year-to-year and seasonal variations in stunting among preschool children in Ethiopia.

The study was undertaken to investigate the year-to-year and seasonal variations in stunting among preschool children living at subsistence level in rural Ethiopia. Five thousand five hundred and eight anthropometric measurements were taken in 678 children (324 boys and 354 girls). The study classified 11.4% and 54.4% of the measurements as wasted and stunted respectively. Stunting occurred more frequently among girls (56.7%) and increased with increasing age. The prevalence of stunting increased from 47% in 1989 to 61% in 1994. In this subsistence farming community, the prevalence of stunting varied over time, especially among children aged 12-23 months. This may have practical consequences both for development work and for future research. Monitoring of year-to-year variations in stunting may suggest some indications of its long-term development in the community. Long-term studies are needed to understand the dynamics of the state of chronic malnutrition.