Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey.
<h4>Background</h4>Undernutrition remains a critical public health issue in Ethiopia, driving high under-five morbidity and mortality. Coexisting forms; stunting, wasting, and underweight magnify these risks but their spatial patterns and determinants remain poorly understood. This study...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329750 |
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| author | Meklit Melaku Bezie Getayeneh Antehunegn Tesema |
| author_facet | Meklit Melaku Bezie Getayeneh Antehunegn Tesema |
| author_sort | Meklit Melaku Bezie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Undernutrition remains a critical public health issue in Ethiopia, driving high under-five morbidity and mortality. Coexisting forms; stunting, wasting, and underweight magnify these risks but their spatial patterns and determinants remain poorly understood. This study investigates the geographic distribution and key factors of coexisting undernutrition among Ethiopian children under five to inform targeted, geographic-specific interventions.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS), including a weighted sample of 4,952 children under five years of age. Spatial analysis was employed to explore the geographic distribution of coexisting forms of undernutrition, and significant spatial clusters were identified using SaTScan version 10. To examine associated factors, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were included in the multivariable model. Effect measures were reported using Adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).<h4>Results</h4>The national prevalence of coexisting forms of undernutrition among children under five in Ethiopia was 19.6% (95% CI: 18.5,20.7), with marked regional disparities ranging from 5.2% in Addis Ababa to 30.7% in the Afar region. Spatial analysis identified a significant high-risk cluster spanning Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Benishangul-Gumuz, and northern Somali regions (Log-Likelihood Ratio [LLR] = 38.83, p < 0.001), indicating pronounced geographic heterogeneity. Maternal education at primary (AOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98), secondary (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.77), and higher levels (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.51), higher household wealth (richer: AOR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.92; richest: AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.80), and female sex (AOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.92). Conversely, multiple births (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.18) and residing in communities with high poverty levels (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.87) significantly increased the risk of coexisting undernutrition.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Significant geographic disparities in coexisting undernutrition among Ethiopian children under five highlight urgent hotspots in Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Benishangul, and northern Somali regions. Protective factors such as maternal education, household wealth, and female sex, while multiple births and poverty were risk factors. These findings highlight the need for geographically targeted interventions focused on hotspot areas, with an emphasis on improving maternal education and alleviating poverty to reduce coexisting forms of undernutrition and enhance child survival. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| spelling | doaj-art-73b7d46a7c2943eb9358d9f2aecfcaa52025-08-23T05:31:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01208e032975010.1371/journal.pone.0329750Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey.Meklit Melaku BezieGetayeneh Antehunegn Tesema<h4>Background</h4>Undernutrition remains a critical public health issue in Ethiopia, driving high under-five morbidity and mortality. Coexisting forms; stunting, wasting, and underweight magnify these risks but their spatial patterns and determinants remain poorly understood. This study investigates the geographic distribution and key factors of coexisting undernutrition among Ethiopian children under five to inform targeted, geographic-specific interventions.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS), including a weighted sample of 4,952 children under five years of age. Spatial analysis was employed to explore the geographic distribution of coexisting forms of undernutrition, and significant spatial clusters were identified using SaTScan version 10. To examine associated factors, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were included in the multivariable model. Effect measures were reported using Adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs).<h4>Results</h4>The national prevalence of coexisting forms of undernutrition among children under five in Ethiopia was 19.6% (95% CI: 18.5,20.7), with marked regional disparities ranging from 5.2% in Addis Ababa to 30.7% in the Afar region. Spatial analysis identified a significant high-risk cluster spanning Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Benishangul-Gumuz, and northern Somali regions (Log-Likelihood Ratio [LLR] = 38.83, p < 0.001), indicating pronounced geographic heterogeneity. Maternal education at primary (AOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98), secondary (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.77), and higher levels (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.51), higher household wealth (richer: AOR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.92; richest: AOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.80), and female sex (AOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.92). Conversely, multiple births (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.18) and residing in communities with high poverty levels (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.87) significantly increased the risk of coexisting undernutrition.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Significant geographic disparities in coexisting undernutrition among Ethiopian children under five highlight urgent hotspots in Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Benishangul, and northern Somali regions. Protective factors such as maternal education, household wealth, and female sex, while multiple births and poverty were risk factors. These findings highlight the need for geographically targeted interventions focused on hotspot areas, with an emphasis on improving maternal education and alleviating poverty to reduce coexisting forms of undernutrition and enhance child survival.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329750 |
| spellingShingle | Meklit Melaku Bezie Getayeneh Antehunegn Tesema Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey. PLoS ONE |
| title | Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey. |
| title_full | Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey. |
| title_fullStr | Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey. |
| title_short | Spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia: Evidence from the 2019 Mini-Demographic and Health Survey. |
| title_sort | spatial distribution and factors associated with coexisting undernutrition among under five children in ethiopia evidence from the 2019 mini demographic and health survey |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329750 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meklitmelakubezie spatialdistributionandfactorsassociatedwithcoexistingundernutritionamongunderfivechildreninethiopiaevidencefromthe2019minidemographicandhealthsurvey AT getayenehantehunegntesema spatialdistributionandfactorsassociatedwithcoexistingundernutritionamongunderfivechildreninethiopiaevidencefromthe2019minidemographicandhealthsurvey |