PREVALENCE OF UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN JIMMA TOWN, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Undernutrition is a major public health problem disproportionately high in the developing world. In Ethiopia, child undernutrition remained a key public health problem despite lots of interventions. According to 2016 EDHS, 38% of children under age 5 are stunted; 10% are wasted, and 24% are underweight. Data specific to the nutritional status of preschool children in Jimma zone as well as the country is limited. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among preschool children in Jimma town. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 408 preschool children 36-59 months aged in Jimma town from March 1-April 15/2018. Systematic sampling techniques were used in selecting the study participants. Data were exported from EPI data version 4.1 to SPSS version 20 for statistical analysis. Anthropometric data was analyzed by WHO Anthro (2006) and principal component analysis was done to generate house hold wealth index. Both descriptive and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify independent predictors of nutritional status. Finally, variables with a p-value