Child health outcomes and associated factors among under five years children in Ethiopia: a population attributable fractions analysis of Ethiopia demographic and health survey (2005-2016).

introductionIn Ethiopia, more than half (57%) of children aged 6-59 months were estimated to be anemic in 2016 alone. The country had about 37% of under-five children suffering from stunting and under-five mortality rate of 59 deaths per 1000 live births in 2019. The main purpose of this paper was to estimate the proportion of under-five children prevented from childhood undernutrition, anemia, and under-five mortality by removing the risk factors or inequalities.

methodThis cross-sectional study was based on a pooled total sample of 29,831 children aged 0-59 months drawn from three rounds of the Ethiopian Demography and Health Surveys (2005-2016). We employed multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the modifiable risk factors associated with childhood anemia, undernutrition, and under-five mortality among under-five children. We also used Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs) to estimate the proportion of under-five children that could be prevented from childhood undernutrition, anemia, and under-five mortality by removing inequalities.

resultPAF analyses of risk factors of childhood anemia confirmed that 38.5% of occurrence of childhood anemia was attributed to five selected risk factors, which include having a large household size (5+), being in a poor household, being born from anemic and unemployed mothers, and being breastfed for less than six months. About 45.6% of occurrences of childhood undernutrition were attributed to unimproved toilet facility, solid cooking fuel, and home delivery. About 72% of the reported under-five mortality could possibly be averted by removing the use of unimproved toilet facilities, early age childbirth (< 18 years old mothers), and a large number of children ever born to mothers and less than six months breastfeeding practice at the population level.

conclusionThe present study suggests that a substantial reduction in the prevalence of childhood anemia, undernutrition, and under-five mortality in the country is attainable if child survival-focused program interventions and policies target households and mothers with low socioeconomic status and those who have low awareness of child healthcare, including breastfeeding practice and use of safe sanitation facilities.