MALNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6–59 MONTHS IN DUGDA DAWA DISTRICT, WEST GUJI ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

<strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: Malnutrition remains a major health problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. To mitigate this problem, it is necessary to determine its nature, magnitude and determinants. Therefore, this study assessed the magnitude and factors associated with under nutrition in children aged 6–59 months in Dugda Dawa District, West Guji Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study design was used to assess the magnitude and factors associated with under nutrition in children aged 6–59 months from April 10 to July 25/ 2019. A structured questionnaire was collected from 422 children paired with their mothers. Anthropometric data were collected through measurement of length/height and weight of all children. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated to nutritional status of the children. SPSS version 20 statistical software was used for analysis. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study area was 43.1%. Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 42.4%, 27.6% and 13%, respectively. Children in upper age (AOR = 8.38; 95% CI: 3.78-15.6), large family size (AOR=1.78; 95% CI; 1.19 2.65), poor wealth status (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI; 1.58-4.41), low level of mother education (AOR = 4.02; (95% CI: 2.3-7.04), living in rural area (AOR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.10-4.19) and less frequency of feeding (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.18- 3.82) were significantly associated with malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in Dugda Dawa district was higher as compared to the national and regional figures. Parental residence, large family size, poor wealth status, and low level of maternal education were factors associated with under nutrition. Factors associated to malnutrition as identified by this study need to be considered for the intervention plan. Urgent societal education should also be given to reduce the problems that may arise due to information gaps in the community.