UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS FROM FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS IN METTU TOWN, ILLUBABOR ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA.

Background:Malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries. Food insecurity is one of the determinants of malnutrition in developing countries. In Ethiopia, child malnutrition rate is one of the most serious public health problem and the highest in the world. However, little was understood about the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children from food insecure households from Ethiopia including the study area Objective-The aim of study was to assess the prevalence of under nutrition and associated factors among children 6-59 month from food insecurity household in Mettu town, in illubabor zone, southwest Ethiopia . Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was used among randomly selected 375 children aged 6-59months living in food insecurity households from June 19st to July 19,2021.Data were collected by four nurses using pretested structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurement were recorded. The data were coded and entered into Epi-data version 3.1. and exported to SPSS version for further analysis. Underweight, stunting, and wasting were determined by World Health Organization anthro software. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to see the association between dependent and independent variables. An odds ratio along with a 95% confidence interval (CI)was used to compute the presence and degree of association. Statistical significance was declared when a P value of less than 0.05.. Result: The study revealed that the nutritional status prevalence of under nutrition (stunting, underweight, and wasting) to be 50.5%, 30.7%, and 31% respectively. Maternal education [(AOR=2.39, 95% CI :( 1.36,-4.18) and extra food consumption during pregnancy and lactation [(AOR=1.76, 95%CI: (1.3-2.73)]) were associated with stunting. Source of water drink [(AOR=1.51, 95%CI: (1.11-3.82), presence of diarrhea in last two weeks [(AOR=0.20, (0.17-0.50)] and use of family planning method [(AOR=0.47, 95%CI :( 0.27-0.82)] were associated with wasting.). Maternal occupation [(AOR=2.75, 95%CI: (1.14-6.64)] and marital status [(AOR= 0.23, 95%CI: (0.90, 0.81)] were significantly associated with association with underweight. Conclusion: This study indicated that there was higher prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight .in the study area. Maternal education, maternal status, extra food consumption during pregnancy/lactation, presence of diarrhea in last two weeks, maternal occupation and source of water drink were significantly associated with under nutrition. Promotion of nutrition related education on extra food during pregnancy/lactation, on family planning method and Prevention and control of childhood illnesses are highly recommended in this study.