Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey

Significant geographic disparities in coexisting undernutrition among Ethiopian children under five highlight urgent hotspots in Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Benishangul, and northern Somali regions. Protective factors such as maternal education, household wealth, and female sex, while multiple births and poverty were risk factors. These findings highlight the need for geographically targeted interventions focused on hotspot areas, with an emphasis on improving maternal education and alleviating poverty to reduce coexisting forms of undernutrition and enhance child survival.