Dietary practices and nutritional status of young children in the former ensete monoculture dominated Sidama region, southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study

Child undernutrition is a challenge in Ethiopia, where morbidity and mortality among children are attributed to it. This study aimed to describe the dietary practices, household food insecurity, and nutritional status of young children in Dale district, Sidama region, southern Ethiopia. We discuss our findings in light of research from the same area 3 to 5 decades ago, and we analyze factors associated with linear growth of young children. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. Children less than two years old and their primary caretakers (n = 903) were included in this study. Among whom 791 children were aged above six months and 742 children out of 791 provided a 24-hour dietary recall. Interviews capturing other dietary practices, food insecurity, socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and haemoglobin assessments were performed for all. The WHO Child Growth Standards were used to calculate anthropometric indices and to describe stunting (length-for-age z-score