Under-nutrition and Associated Factors among Children aged 6 months to 24 months in Gida Ayana District, East Wollega, Western Ethiopia

Background: Malnutrition is the major public health problem over the world. Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia, contribute the highest of all. However, little evidences were documented on nutritional status and associated factors among infants and young children particularly in the study area.Objective: To assess the under-nutrition and associated factors among infants and young children aged 6-24 months. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted on 379 randomly selected children aged 6 to 24 month old living in Gida Ayana District. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were also taken. The data was entered in to Epi-info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multivariable analysis was carried out to see association between under nutrition and other factors. Results: This study revealed that, 35.9%, 24.8 % and 12.4 % of infants and young children were stunted, underweight and wasted respectively. Started complementary feeding after 6 months (AOR=2.072, 95%CI: 1.215, 3.536) was significantly associated with stunting. Started complementary feeding after 6 months (AOR =2.426, 95%CI: 1.077, 5.463), family monthly income <=2000 birr (AOR=3.151, 95%CI: 1.691, 5.873), age group 12-24 months (AOR= 7.549, 95%CI: 3.84614.815), cough two weeks before this survey (AOR=2.571, 95% CI: 1.129-5.857) were significantly associated with wasting.Conclusion: In this study, prevalence of under-nutrition in the study area was high. Complementary feeding initiation time, family income, age of the child, cough, Family size, immunization status, Vitamin A supplementation and method of child feeding were predictors of child under-nutrition.