Table 4.
Univariate analyses and logistic regression of the factors associated with underweight among school children
| Variable | Total, N (%), N = 1205 | Underweight | COR (95% CI) | P-value | AOR (95% CI)a | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present, N (%), N = 309 | Absent, N (%), N = 896 | ||||||
| Age | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | |||||
| 6–9 years | 443 (36.8) | 170 (38.4) | 273 (61.6) | 2.8 (2.1–3.6) | 1 | ||
| 10 – 12 years | 762 (63.2) | 139 (18.2) | 623 (81.8) | 1 | 2.6 (1.6–4.1) | ||
| Gender | |||||||
| Male | 624 (51.8) | 164 (26.3) | 460 (73.7) | 1 | 0.599 | – | |
| Female | 581 (48.2) | 145 (25.0) | 436 (75.0) | 0.9 (0.7–1.2) | – | ||
| Family economic statusb | |||||||
| Poor | 880 (73.0) | 213 (24.2) | 667 (75.8) | 0.8 (0.6–1.0) | 0.063 | – | |
| Not poor | 325 (27.0) | 96 (29.5) | 229 (70.5) | 1 | – | ||
| Family size | |||||||
| < 5 people | 630 (52.3) | 112 (17.8) | 518 (82.2) | 1 | < 0.001 | 1 | 0.751 |
| ≥ 5 people | 575 (47.7) | 197 (34.3) | 378 (65.7) | 2.4 (1.8–3.1) | 1.1 (0.7–1.7) | ||
| Mother’s literacy | |||||||
| Literate | 208 (17.3) | 66 (31.7) | 142 (68.3) | 1 | 0.027 | – | |
| Illiterate | 997 (82.7) | 243 (24.4) | 754 (75.6) | 0.7 (0.5–1.0) | – | ||
| Take breakfast before coming to school | |||||||
| Yes | 1013 (84.1) | 228 (22.5) | 785 (77.5) | 1 | < 0.001 | 1 | < 0.001 |
| No | 192 (15.9) | 81 (42.2) | 111 (57.8) | 2.5 (1.8–3.5) | 2.6 (1.8–3.6) | ||
| Toilet availability | |||||||
| Yes | 1108 (92.0) | 292 (26.4) | 816 (73.6) | 1.7 (1.0–2.9) | 0.056 | – | |
| No (open defecation) | 97 (8.0) | 17 (17.5) | 80 (82.5) | 1 | – | ||
| Handwashing after defecating/before eating | |||||||
| Yes | 939 (77.9) | 253 (26.9) | 686 (73.1) | 0.7 (0.5–1.0) | 0.052 | – | |
| No | 266 (22.1) | 56 (21.1) | 210 (78.9) | 1 | – | ||
| Sanitation | |||||||
| Good | 123 (10.2) | 18 (14.6) | 105 (85.4) | 1 | 0.003 | 1 | 0.022 |
| Poor | 1082 (89.8) | 291 (26.9) | 791 (73.1) | 2.1 (1.3–3.6) | 1.9 (1.1–3.2) | ||
| Food security present | |||||||
| Yes | 184 (15.3) | 16 (8.7) | 168 (91.3) | 1 | < 0.001 | – | |
| No | 1021 (84.7) | 293 (28.7) | 728 (71.3) | 0.2 (0.1–0.4) | – | ||
| Dietary diversity present | |||||||
| Yes | 103 (8.5) | 7 (6.8) | 96 (93.2) | 1 | < 0.001 | – | |
| No | 1102 (91.5) | 302 (27.4) | 800 (72.6) | 0.2 (0.1–0.4) | – | ||
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