PDF, 1536K - Measure DHS

Chronic malnutrition among Ethiopian children is very high, with more than one in two children
(52 percent) stunted and more than one in four children (26 percent) severely stunted (Table 11.11).
The level of stunting increases rapidly with age from 11 percent among children under six months of age
to about 60 percent among children age three years and older. There is little difference in the level of
stunting by sex. First order births are least likely to be stunted, and children of birth order 4-5 are most
likely. The length of birth interval is inversely related to stunting. As expected, rural children are more
likely to be stunted than urban children, and children residing in the most urbanized parts of the country
(Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa) are much less likely to be stunted. Mother’s education impacts children’s
nutritional status positively, with 33 percent of children of highly educated mothers stunted, compared
with 53 percent of children of mothers with no education.
Eleven percent of children under five years of age are wasted (thin for their height), and
1 percent are severely wasted. The proportion of wasted children is highest in the 12-23 month age
group, which could indicate inadequate food supplementation during the weaning period and exposure
to diseases. Wasting increases with birth order, as more children are likely to compete for a limited
quantity of food, especially in poor households. Rural children are more than two times as likely to be
wasted than urban children. Regional variation in the level of wasting is substantial. The level of wasting
is highest in the Gambela Region (18 percent) and lowest in Addis Ababa. Mother’s education has a
positive impact on lowering wasting.
Forty-seven percent of children are underweight (low weight-for-age) and 16 percent are severely
underweight. Differentials by background characteristics are shown in Figure 11.1 and are very similar
to those discussed for wasting.
Figure 11.1 Weight-for-Age Among Children Under Age 5 by
Selected Characteristics
CHILD'S AGE (months)
< 6
6-11
12-23
24-35
36-47
48-59
CHILD'S SEX
Male
Female
RESIDENCE
Urban
Rural
REGION
Tigray
Affar
Amhara
Oromiya
Somali
Benishangul-Gumuz
SNNP
Gambela
Harari
Addis Ababa
Dire Dawa
MOTHER'S EDUCATION
No education
Primary
Secondary and higher
7
14
27
28
31
34
37
39
40
42
44
42
48
46
50
50
49
48
5152
50
56
55
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
54
Note: Weight-for-age is a composite index of height-for-age and weight-for-height.
Ethiopia DHS 2000
Infant Feeding and Childhood and Maternal Nutrition * 155