Abstract

Background: Child undernutrition remains a significant public health concern in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia, where it contributes substantially to child illness and mortality. However, the relationship between anthropometric indices and associated factors has received limited attention. To better understand the contributing factors, we employ structural equation modeling to assess undernutrition among Ethiopian children aged 0–59 months
Methods: We analyzed data from 8,757 children aged 0–59 months from the 2016 EDHS. Undernutrition was measured using three anthropometric indicators: stunting, underweight, and wasting. We employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), including Exploratory Factor Analysis, to identify and examine the factors associated with undernutrition in children
Results: The mean values for wasting (weight-for-height), underweight (weight-for-age), and stunting (height-for-age) were -1.12, -1.31, and -0.73, respectively. Notably, a strong correlation of 0.631 was observed between stunting and underweight, while wasting and underweight showed a correlation of 0.745. Factors such as the child's age in months, maternal education, and wealth index were significantly associated with nutritional status (stunting and underweight) among Ethiopian children. Additionally, the place of delivery had a notable impact on undernutrition (p = 0.01); children born in health facilities (β = -0.115) were less likely to experience undernutrition compared to those born at home. The child's age and gender also played significant roles.
Conclusion: The prevalence of undernutrition among Ethiopian children aged 0–59 months was notably high. A significant association was observed between underweight and stunting, as well as between underweight and wasting. The results from the structural equation model indicated that variables such as family wealth index, maternal education, sex of the household head, place of delivery, child's age in months, delivery by cesarean section, and type of toilet facilities were significant determinants of children's nutritional status in Ethiopia.