Tracking progress in anthropometric failure among under-five children in Ethiopia: a geospatial and multilevel analysis

Abstract Background Undernutrition is a major public health concern among under-five children in many developing countries. This work evaluated the overall prevalence of under-nutrition by using composite index anthropometric failure (CIAF), which helps detection with multiple failures. research also includes Spatio-temporal distribution childhood failures across time. Methods Secondary data was obtained from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey for survey 2005, 2011, 2016 years. Data included 23,864 samples between ages 0–59 months, nationally representative sample Ethiopia. Other than descriptive statistics, multivariate multilevel logistic regression used to identify associated factors, Getis-Ord spatial statistical tools were employed high low hotspots areas Result The CIAF was, 53.5 %, 51 46.2 % suffering respectively. analysis revealed that are at higher risk consistently found northern parts country, largely Amhara, Tigray, Afar regions. Multilevel showed older children, had birth weight, mother BMI, rural area, mothers fathers without formal education. Conclusions In addition identifying wasted, stunted, underweight identified conditions, often overlooked nutritional surveys. As this index, remains considerably its significantly varied regions country. established socio-demographic characteristics districts can be develop localized intervention prevention strategies improve children’s status healthcare.