Abstract:
Background: Adequate zinc intake is essential for the growth and neurobehavioral development of young children.
Zinc deficiency in children is recognized as risk factor for stunting. In Ethiopia, 38% of children under five years of age
are stunted. This analysis was conducted to measure dietary zinc intake and to identify its determinants among
children 6–35 months of age to design appropriate intervention.
Methods: Nationally and regionally representative data available from 6752 children 6–35 months of age from
the Ethiopian national food consumption survey were analyzed. A multivariate model was used to identify determinants
of dietary zinc intake.
Results: We found low dietary zinc intake among children 6–35 month age. National average dietary zinc intake was 1.
74 mg/day. Socio-economic status, maternal education, and maternal age were positively associated with dietary zinc
intake, while the number of children under 5 years-of-age in a household was negatively associated with dietary zinc
intake (p < 0.0001). Children reportedly sick in the previous 2 weeks were most likely to have low dietary zinc
intake (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: The observed low dietary zinc intake in Ethiopian children has a significant association with health
status of children, providing evidence for nutrition and health planners to emphasize on promoting consumption
of zinc rich foods and preventing morbidity from common infections.
