The Effect of Socioeconomic and Behavioral Factors on Childhood Stunting in Janamora District, Ethiopia

Purpose: Globally in 2016, 22.9% of under-five children were stunted. In Ethiopia, the current reduction rate was 2.8%, which was far from the global nutritional target of 2025. However, evidence on the prevalence of stunting and its associated factors in Janamora district was very limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of stunting and to identify the risk factors among 6–59 months children in Janamora district. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Janamora district from February to March 2020. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 845 study participants. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered technique from caregivers, and anthropometric measurements were taken from the child. An adjusted odds ratio and a P-value <0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. Results: The prevalence of stunting in this study was 44.9% (95% CI: 41.5, 48.4). The following conditions were significantly affected stunting: age of child 6–11 months (AOR=2.5 (1.18–5.29)), 12–24 months (AOR=3.38 (1.95–5.88)), 24–35 months (AOR=2.33 (1.35,4.01)), wealth status: poorest (AOR=2.79 (1.66,4.68)), poor (AOR=2.15 (1.29,3.57)), medium (AOR=2.09 (1.25,3.49)), good knowledge of mothers/caregivers on handwashing: (AOR = 0.64 (0.43,0.92)), presence of diarrhea: (AOR = 1.9 (1.23,2.95)), start complementary feeding at six months: (AOR=0.58 (0.39,0.88)), start complementary feeding before six months: (AOR=1.58 (1.07,2.34)), and large family size: (AOR=2.33 (1.70,3.21)). Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of stunting was high. Being a younger child, living with a large family size, low wealth status, starting complementary feeding before and at 6-months, and diarrhea were provoking factors for stunting. On the other hand, good knowledge of mothers on handwashing during the critical time was associated with a low risk of stunting. Therefore, the nutrition programs need to give focus activities that enhance caregiver’s handwashing knowledge at the critical time and to start complementary feeding at the appropriate age.