The association of children’s nutritional status to maternal education in Zigbaboto, Guragie Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract: A cross-sectional study intended to assess the association of the nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in relation to the literacy status of their mothers was undertaken in Zigbaboto village, Guragie Zone, Southern Ethiopia, during March-April, 1996. The study was based on 231 children and the overall prevalences of stunting, underweight and wasting were 46.7%, 44.2%, and 13.0%, respectively. A bivariate analysis based on height-for-age showed a high prevalence of stunting in children of illiterate mothers (52.2%) than children of literate mothers (22.2%). This difference is noted to be statistically significant (P<0.05). A multivariate analysis also demonstrated that within the given literacy status, income (that is mainly based on possessions of agricultural products and livestock), prenatal follow-up of the mother, and household size did not show any statistical significance on the nutritional status of the study children. The findings underscored the importance of maternal education for a better achievement of nutritional status than any other variable and has important implications for policy and for further investigation in a similar community. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1999;13(1):55-61