Undernutrition and associated factors in orphan children aged 6-59 months in Gambella Southwest, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Objective The study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and associated factors in orphaned children under 5 years old. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Gambella City, Ethiopia. Participants A sample of 419 under 5 orphaned children included in the study. Eligible households with orphans had selected using a systematic random sampling method. The lottery method was used when more than one eligible study participants live in the household. An OR with 95% CI was performed to measure the strength of association between each dependent variable and independent variables. Variables with pPrimary outcome The main outcome of this study was the prevalence of undernutrition among orphaned under 5 and its associated factors. Results Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in orphan children under 5 were 12.2%, 37.8% and 21.7%, respectively. The prevalnce of wasting peaks among age group of 36-47 months (42.5%), whereas underweight peaks in 48-59 months (27.7%). Food insecurity, wealth index, family size, vitamin A supplementation, diarrhoea, fever 2 weeks before the survey, children under 5 and parents' death were associated with undernutrition. Conclusion The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among orphan children under 5 was significantly high. Multisectoral collaborative efforts towards access to health services, improving income-generating activities, micronutrient supplementation and social support and protection targeting orphan and vulnerable populations have to be built up.