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Risk factors of morbidity among children under age five in Ethiopia
Authors: Kasahun Takele, Temesgen Zewotir, and Denis Ndanguza
Source: BMC Public Health, 19(1): 1-9; DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7273-4
Topic(s): Child health
Children under five
Diarrhea
Fever
Morbidity
Country: Africa
  Ethiopia
Published: DEC 2019
Abstract: Background Childhood morbidities are a major cause of mortality of children in the developing countries particularly in Ethiopia. Regardless of the noticeable improvement in the reduction of under-five death in Ethiopia, childhood diarrhea and fever are still the leading cause of death. In Ethiopia, the burden of child mortality is alarming and calls for determined efforts in combating such health problems. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the risk factors for childhood morbidity specifically for diarrhea and fever. Methods To gain insight into children’s health issues, the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data were used. Among the marginal models, alternating logistic regression that is an extension of the generalized estimating equation model was used to investigate the risk factors of childhood morbidity explicitly for diarrhea and fever. Results The results show that the child’s sex, child’s age, anemia level, husband education level, mother’s work status, mother’s marital status, breastfeeding status and region are all chosen significant risk factors related with childhood diarrhea disease and fever disease. Conclusion The study indicated that male children, 0–11?months aged children, 12–23?months aged children, anemic children, husband with a lower education, mothers paid employment, non-breastfed children, regions of Amhara, Afar, Dire Dawa, Benishangul, Gambela, Oromia, SNNPR, Somali and Tigray were significantly associated with higher odds of morbidity in Ethiopia. Therefore, there is a need for children morbidity interventions intended to improve child health outcomes in the country.
Web: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-7273-4