Determinants of Under-nutrition among Children Aged 6 up to 59 Months in Akaki Kaliti Sub City, Addis Ababa: Unmatched Case-Control Study

Background Malnutrition remains a major health problem and globally it is responsible for one-third of all infant and child mortality. Despite progress has been made in improving child nutrition in Ethiopia in the last decades, it remains a problem of public health importance. Though, there were numerous studies undertaken previously, no studies were previously tried to verify the determinants of malnutrition among children age 6 to 59 months in the study area. Hence, there is a necessity to carry out a study to come up with the determinant factors of malnutrition in the Akaki Kaliti sub-city, Addis Ababa. Objective of the Study To identify determinants of undernutrition among children age 6 to 59 months in Akaki Kaliti Sub-city, Addis Ababa, 2021. Methods and Materials Facility-based unmatched case control study was conducted in public health facilities of Akaki Kaliti Sub-city, Addis Ababa from April 26 to May 31, 2021. Consecutive sampling technique was employed. Primary data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 21. Variables with P-value <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were identified and fitted in multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of child undernutrition. The magnitude of association was measured by AOR with 95% confidence interval. A P-value less than 0.05 were used to declare the observed association is statistically significant. Result A total of 83 children (cases) and 159 children (controls) with their mothers/care givers were participated in the study. Having upper respiratory tract infection in the past two weeks [AOR = 1.89; 95%CI (1.2 – 3.57)], lack of water supply to the household [AOR = 2.93; 95%CI (1.3 – 6.57)], and use of public toilet facility [AOR = 2.35; 95%CI (1.21 – 4.57)] were factors statistically significant with the outcome variables. Conclusion and Recommendation having upper respiratory tract infection in the past two weeks, not having water supply to the household, and using public toilet facilities had contributed to the risk of undernutrition. Strengthening screening of all children for undernutrition and improving water and sanitation services to the household are recommended.