Netsanet Fentahun1, Tefera Belachew2, Carl Lachat3. 1. Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Netsanet_fentahun@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Population and Family Health, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. 3. Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare undernutrition with child morbidity and their determinants according to a composite index of anthropometrical failures and conventional indices. METHODS: We used data generated from three rounds of a longitudinal panel survey conducted in nine districts in Oromiya Region and the Southern Nations, Nationality and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. We estimated undernutrition using conventional indices and composite index of anthropometrical failures. Included in this analysis were 579, 674, and 674 children age <5 y in rounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The households were recruited using the expanded program on immunization sampling method. The hierarchical nature of the data Applied nutritional investigation was taken into account during the statistical analysis using a two-level mixed-effects logistic regression model. RESULTS: A composite index of anthropological failure, estimated 45.1%, 42.4%, and 46.4% of the children were undernourished in round 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The conventional indices estimated 24.4%, 24.2%, and 30.4% underweight in round 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Being female (odds ratio [OR], 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-14.0); low dietary diversity (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6-5.9); medium dietary diversity (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3), and no special foods during illness (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8) were determinant of multiple anthropometrical failures. Children with multiple anthropometric failures were 2.6 times more likely to report child morbidities (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-5.9). However, none of the conventional indices were associated with any of the reported child morbidities, such as stunting (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.4), wasting (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5-1.6), or underweight (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-2.0). CONCLUSION: The conventional indices underestimated the prevalence of undernutrition by 20.7%. Children with multiple anthropometric failures are at high risk for developing child morbidities and should benefit from nutrition intervention to reduce child morbidities.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare undernutrition with child morbidity and their determinants according to a composite index of anthropometrical failures and conventional indices. METHODS: We used data generated from three rounds of a longitudinal panel survey conducted in nine districts in Oromiya Region and the Southern Nations, Nationality and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. We estimated undernutrition using conventional indices and composite index of anthropometrical failures. Included in this analysis were 579, 674, and 674 children age <5 y in rounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The households were recruited using the expanded program on immunization sampling method. The hierarchical nature of the data Applied nutritional investigation was taken into account during the statistical analysis using a two-level mixed-effects logistic regression model. RESULTS: A composite index of anthropological failure, estimated 45.1%, 42.4%, and 46.4% of the children were undernourished in round 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The conventional indices estimated 24.4%, 24.2%, and 30.4% underweight in round 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Being female (odds ratio [OR], 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-14.0); low dietary diversity (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6-5.9); medium dietary diversity (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3), and no special foods during illness (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8) were determinant of multiple anthropometrical failures. Children with multiple anthropometric failures were 2.6 times more likely to report child morbidities (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-5.9). However, none of the conventional indices were associated with any of the reported child morbidities, such as stunting (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.4), wasting (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5-1.6), or underweight (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-2.0). CONCLUSION: The conventional indices underestimated the prevalence of undernutrition by 20.7%. Children with multiple anthropometric failures are at high risk for developing child morbidities and should benefit from nutrition intervention to reduce child morbidities.
Authors: Susan Thurstans; Charles Opondo; Andrew Seal; Jonathan Wells; Tanya Khara; Carmel Dolan; André Briend; Mark Myatt; Michel Garenne; Rebecca Sear; Marko Kerac Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2020-12