Objective: The objective of this study is assessing magnitude of stunting and its predictors among children aged 6-59 months in Damot Gale district, South Ethiopia. Community based cross sectional study was done at Damot Gale district. About 398 children aged 6-59 months were included in the study. Kebele (small administrative unit) and household were chosen by two-phase cluster sample design. Structured questionnaire was used to gather the data. Anthropometric measurement was also used to get the data. SPSS version 20 was used to analysis the data.
Results: About 41.7% of children were stunted. Children aged 36-47 months [AOR 6.22; 95% CI (1.81-21.36)], and 48-59 months [AOR 7.27; 95% CI (1.22-43.19)], sex of the child [AOR 20.79; 95% CI (7.50-57.65)], birth order [AOR 6.42; 95% CI (1.68-24.48)], mother education [AOR 0.06; 95% CI (0.02-0.14)], having toilet facility [AOR 0.059; 95% CI (0.02-0.18)], washing hand by soap [AOR 16.21; 95% CI (5.11-51.4)] and ANC [AOR 0.045; 95% CI (0.01-0.13)] were associated with stunting.
Keywords: Children; Rural dwellers; Stunting.