Postwar wasting and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months at Adigrat Town, Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, 2025: a community-based survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Globally, wasting in children aged 6-59 months remains a critical public health challenge, experiencing significant regional and socioeconomic variations, and is most prevalent in low and middle-income countries where resources are limited. However, there is a scarcity of evidence related to wasting among 6-59 months aged children after the cessation of hostility in Northern Ethiopia, Tigray, particularly in Adigrat town. Hence, this study aimed to assess the postwar wasting and related factors among 6-59 months aged children in Adigrat town, Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 325, 6-59 months aged children from January 8 to February 20, 2025. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and Mid-Upper Arm circumference direct measurements were used for data collection. Epi data version 4.4.2 was used for data entry and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were done for the frequency. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with wasting of 6-59 months aged children. A p-value of < 0.05 along with a 95% confidence interval was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of wasting among 6-59 months aged children was found to be 17.5% (95% CI, 13.5-21.8), with 12.3% being moderately and 5.2% severely wasted. Squeezing out first milk [AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.471-6.998], not still breastfeeding [AOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.295-7.729], and consuming only cereals [AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.162-10.676] were found to be more likely of wasting among the children aged 6-59 months compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of 6-59 months aged children were wasted. Squeezing out initial milk, not still breastfeeding, and consuming cereals solely were all strongly linked to wasting among the children. Supporting and enhancing child feeding policies and practices that support healthy supplemental feeding practices as well as exclusive breastfeeding.