Risk factors associated with stunting in Ethiopian children under 5 vary by wealth quintile (620.8)

Background: Stunting can negatively impacting physical and mental development. Wealth is a strong predictor of stunting, but may be mediated by prenatal care, maternal health and feeding practices. Objective: Identify factors associated with stunting in Ethiopian children under 5 across wealth quintiles. Methods: Based on literature, a hierarchical risk framework was developed and the 2011 Demographic Health Survey data analyzed. Step‐wise multivariate logistic regressions were performed. Odds ratios were calculated. Results: Children in the poorest quintile are more stunted compared to richest quintile (odds ratio: 1.82, p<0.0001), followed by poorer households (1.635, p=0.001), middle (1.592, p=0.001) and richer quintile (1.549, p=0.003). Older children are more likely to be stunted and maternal short stature is significant risk factor irrespective of wealth quintile. Continued breastfeeding in older infants and children (6‐12 months and older) is negatively associated with poorest, second poorest and the middle quintile, prevalence of diarrhea with the second poorest. Stunting was low in the richest but being a boy, less maternal education, smaller birth interval and birth size are associated with stunting in the wealthiest. Feeding practices were not a significant predictor in any quintile. Conclusions: There is a linear relationship between stunting under five in Ethiopia and wealth quintile Factors associated with stunting vary by wealth. In sufficient variability in feeding practices data prevents understanding the link between infant feeding practices and stunting.