# Magnitude of Stunting and Its Determinants Among Under‐Five Children in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study found that nearly a quarter of children under five in Awi Zone, Ethiopia, are stunted, with factors like poverty and lack of health insurance playing a major role.

## Contribution

The study provides localized insights into stunting determinants in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, using a community-based cross-sectional design.

## Key findings

- The prevalence of stunting among under-five children in Awi Zone was 24.9%.
- Factors like wealth index, health insurance, and exclusive breastfeeding were significantly associated with reduced stunting.
- Male children and those aged 24–59 months were more likely to be stunted.

## Abstract

Stunting is a major global health concern, with an estimated 154.8 million children under 5 years old. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and the contributing factors of stunting among children under 5 years old in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted on 1388 participants selected using a multistage sampling method. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect the data, and STATA software was used for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with stunting.

The prevalence of stunting in Awi Zone was 24.9%. Rich wealth index (AOR: 0.46), health insurance (AOR: 0.45), child aged 24–59 months (AOR: 30.40), medium birth weight (AOR: 0.53), having toilet facility (AOR: 0.46), male child (AOR: 1.92), 2nd or 3rd birth order (AOR: 1.99), institutional delivery (AOR: 0.48), exclusive breastfeeding (AOR: 0.11), and ANC (AOR: 0.64) are significantly associated with stunting.

To reduce child stunting, governmental and nongovernmental organizations should design and implement public health interventions targeting poor households and those without health insurance and should enhance institutional delivery and ANC visits.