Abstract:
Background: Stunting is one of the most severe and slightly addressed children health problems
in Ethiopia in general and the Amhara region in particular, Suitable feeding set pre-requisite for
decent nutritional status in every time of human life. Outdated feeding practices are practices that
are not considering the nutritional aspect of feeding. This practice was common in Amhara region.
Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to assess trends of stunting and HAZ (2000-2016),
to determine the prevalence of stunting within consecutive EDHS, and to identify risk factors of
stunting and major determinants of stunting among children less than five years in Amhara region.
Methods: A study was cross-sectional research design via using a quantitative research approach.
And a complex sample design plan used. The data were from the secondary data source and
obtained from the DHS program dataset, KR, and PR file were used. Quantitative methods of data
analysis were used mainly univariate, bivariate, and multivariate methods of data analysis were
used. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis. Result: The trend of HAZ was decline from -2.2468 CI (-2.3710,-21227) in 2000 EDHS to -1.811
CI (-1.9347, -1.6885). The trend of stunting (height for age<-2SD) in percentage was a decline
from 56.9% in 2000 towards 47.8% in2016 in the Amhara region. The prevalence of stunting was
decline. The logistic regression and chi-square test showed that place of residence, partners
education, wealth index of household, source of drinking water, household toilet facility, a
household has television, maternal education, BMI of mother, sex of a child, age of a child, and
birth weight were significant associated with child stunting. And those variables are significantly
major determinants except place of residence, source of drinking water, and husband education.
Conclusion: The prevalence and trends of stunting were a decline in the Amhara region but the
prevalence still high as compared to Ethiopian prevalence. Therefore, there should be an
integrated socio-demographic approach is important in order to reduce or to take dealings or
measure the problem in the Amhara region.