Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Risk Factors Among Children Under Five Years of age in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Evidence from 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract Background: Under-nutrition is the outcome of insufficient food intake and recurrent infectious diseases. Childhood malnutrition is most widely prevalent among children under the age of five in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. This study explored the major determinants of malnutrition and its association with anemia among children under five years of age in Amhara Region, Ethiopia.Methods: Data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) was used. A total of 974 children under five years of age were used. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used at a 5% level of significance to determine the individual- and community-level factors associated with childhood malnutrition.Results: The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 46.3%, 9.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. About 23.1% of children were both stunting and underweight, 7.3% were both underweight and wasting, and 4.5% of children had all the three conditions. Among the factors considered in this study, Age of child in months, birth weight of the child at birth, mother’s highest education level, sex of household head, sources of drinking water, and type of toilet facility were significantly associated with malnutrition in Amhara Region.Conclusion: Malnutrition among under-five children was one of the public health problems in the Amhara Region. The influence of these factors should be considered to develop strategies for reducing malnutrition in Amhara Region. Finally improving the living standards of the children is important to get better health care, to enhance the child’s nutritional status, and reduce child mortality.