Prevalence of stunting and its associated factors among children 24 to 59 months of age in Gondar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia

Childhood stunting is one of the most serious problems affecting human development. Children are stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the median of the WHO child growth standard. As a child grows older, the risk of stunting increases due to the need for more advanced dietary requirements. In Ethiopia's rural areas, the risk of morbidity and death from stunting remains significant, and little is known about it. As a result, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting and its associated factors among 24-59 month-old children in Gondar Zuria district, Northwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Gondar Zuria rural district from January 2021 to February 2021. A multistage sampling technique was employed, and 637 study participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. A face-to-face interview administered questionnaire was used to collect data from mothers or caregivers during a house-to-house visit. The dietary diversity score (DDS) of the child was determined using the 24-hour recall method. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between the dependent and independent variables. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. A total of 637 children participated in the study, with a response rate of 96.4%. Nearly two-thirds (60.4%) [95% CI: 56.6-64.9%] of children were stunted. Participants who had no gardening practice [AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.23-1.94], a mother's birth interval < 24 months [AOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.31-5.89], and home delivery [AOR = 1.55; CI: 1.14-2.21] were significantly associated with stunting. In this study, a significantly higher proportion of respondents were stunted. As a result, the government should support improved home gardening techniques while raising awareness about the benefits of institutional delivery practices and birth intervals greater than two years.