Child undernutrition in war-torn society: The Ethiopian experience

Using data from a cross-sectional nutrition survey conducted in rural Ethio pia between March and April 1992, roughly a year after the end of one of th e longest civil wars in modern human history, this study attempts to docume nt the magnitude and correlates of childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia. Fi ndings from the study reveal that, at the time of the survey, 59% of childr en in the country were exposed to long-term or chronic undernutrition (stun ted); about 4% were suffering from acute problems (wasted); and about the s ame proportion were both stunted and wasted. Less than a third of the count ry's children had normal growth. The logistic-binomial regression results d emonstrated the existence of significant clustering of risks of undernutrit ion within areas of residence and notable differentials by age of child, du ration of breast-feeding, age at introduction of supplementary foods and nu mber of under-five siblings. Significant variations were also noted by age of household head, pei capita land holding, religious affiliation and preva lence of endemic diseases in an area.