Determinants of height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) among Ethiopian children aged 0-59 months: a multilevel mixed-effects analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Height-for-age z-score (HAZ), based on WHO Child Growth Standards, measures linear growth in children, with lower values indicating potential undernutrition. This study examines HAZ as a continuous measure to explore its proximal and distal determinants.

Methods

Data from 5,045 children aged 0-59 months from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey were used. The survey employed a stratified two-stage cluster design. A multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model was applied to estimate the associations between HAZ and various proximal (individual and household-level) and distal (community-level) factors. Proximal factors included child age, sex, early breastfeeding, maternal age, education, age at first birth, maternal literacy, delivery place, n

SUBMITTER: Amaha ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12044844 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature