Table 3.
Univariate analyses and logistic regression of the factors associated with wasting/thinness among school children
| Variable | Total, N (%), N = 1205 | Wasting or Thinness | COR (95% CI) | P-value | AOR (95% CI)a | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present, N (%), N = 235 | Absent, N (%), N = 970 | ||||||
| Age | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | |||||
| 6–9 years | 443 (36.8) | 159 (35.9) | 284 (64.1) | 5.1 | 1 | ||
| 10 – 12 years | 762 (63.2) | 76 (10.0) | 686 (90.0) |
(3.7–6.9) 1 |
30.5 (11.8–78.7) | ||
| Gender | |||||||
| Male | 624 (51.8) | 121 (19.4) | 503 (80.6) | 1 | 0.920 | – | |
| Female | 581 (48.2) | 114 (19.6) | 467 (80.4) | 1.0 (0.8–1.4) | – | ||
| Family economic statusb | |||||||
| Poor | 880 (73.0) | 181 (20.6) | 699 (79.4) | 1.3 (0.9–1.8) | 0.124 | – | |
| Not poor | 325 (27.0) | 54 (16.6) | 271 (83.4) | 1 | – | ||
| Family size | |||||||
| < 5 people | 630 (52.3) | 69 (11.0) | 561 (89.0) | 1 | < 0.001 | 1 | 0.029 |
| ≥ 5 people | 575 (47.7) | 166 (28.9) | 409 (71.1) | 3.3 (2.4–4.5) | 0.4 (0.1–0.9) | ||
| Father’s literacy | |||||||
| Literate | 346 (28.7) | 131 (37.9) | 215 (62.1) | 4.4 (3.3–6.0) | < 0.001 | 1 | 0.724 |
| Illiterate | 859 (71.3) | 104 (12.1) | 755 (87.9) | 1 | 1.2 (0.5–2.9) | ||
| Birth order | |||||||
| First born | 400 (33.2) | 57 (14.2) | 343 (85.8) | 1 | 0.001 | 1 | 0.308 |
| Later born | 805 (66.8) | 178 (22.1) | 627 (77.9) | 1.7 (1.2–2.4) | 1.3 (0.8–1.9) | ||
| Handwashing after defecating/before eating | |||||||
| Yes | 939 (77.9) | 198 (21.1) | 741 (78.9) | 1 | 0.009 | – | |
| No | 266 (22.1) | 37 (13.9) | 229 (86.1) | 0.6 (0.4–0.9) | – | ||
| Take breakfast before coming to school | |||||||
| Yes | 1013 (84.1) | 137 (13.5) | 876 (86.5) | 1 | < 0.001 | 1 | < 0.001 |
| No | 192 (15.9) | 98 (51.0) | 94 (49.0) | 6.7 (4.8–9.3) | 22.9 (13.9–37.8) | ||
| Sickness in the past two weeks | |||||||
| Yes | 273 (22.7) | 123 (45.1) | 150 (54.9) | 6.0 (4.4–8.2) | < 0.001 | 1 | < 0.001 |
| No | 932 (77.3) | 112 (12.0) | 820 (88.0) | 1 | 17.0 (6.6–43.8) | ||
| Food security present | |||||||
| Yes | 184 (15.3) | 15 (8.2) | 169 (91.8) | 1 | < 0.001 | ||
| No | 1021 (84.7) | 220 (21.5) | 801 (78.5) | 0.3 (0.2–0.6) | – | – | |
| Dietary diversity present | |||||||
| Yes | 103 (8.5) | 5 (4.9) | 98 (95.1) | 1 | < 0.001 | – | |
| No | 1102 (91.5) | 230 (20.9) | 872 (79.1) | 0.2 (0.1–0.5) | – | ||
AOR Adjusted Odds Ratio, CI Confidence interval, COR Crude odds ratio, N Number
aVariables with non-significance on bivariate analysis were not included in logistic regression model
bFamily economic status: Poor = Family which earn < 170 Afghanis (< 1.90 USD) per person per day. Not poor = Family which earn ≥ 170 Afghanis (≥ 1.90 USD) per person per day