Murugan RajalakshmiAbeway Shiferaw2018-07-192023-11-062018-07-192023-11-062017-07http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9313Background: - Stunting reflects chronic under nutrition during the most critical periods ofgrowth and development in early life. Children whose height-for-age Z-score was belowminus two standard deviations from the median of the World Health Organization referencepopulation were considered short for their age (stunted), or chronically malnourished.Children who were below minus three standard deviations were considered severely stunted.Height-for-age, therefore, represents the long-term effects of malnutrition in a population andwas not sensitive to recent, short-term changes in dietary intake. Objectives: - The study was aimed to assess the magnitude of stunting and associated factorsamong children aged 6-59 month in Merhabeta woreda, North Shewa, Ethiopia. Methods: - A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 childrenaged between 6-59 months. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to selectstudy subject. Interviewer administered structured questionnaires was used to collect data.The data was entered using EPI INFO version 3.5.1 and analysis was done by SPSS version20 and ENA, 2007software for anthropometric calculation. Bivariate and multivariablelogistic regression analysis was used. Statistical significance was declared at p<0.05 and95%CI. Result: - The overall magnitude of stunting was 52.4 95%CI (47.6-57.2). Among the totalnumber of stunted children, 110(51.2%) were female. In multiple logistic regression analysisfactors that were significantly associated with stunting were, sex of the child, age of the child,educational status of the mother, ANC visits of the mother, didn’t have timely initiation of complementary feeding and birth weight Children within age group 24-59 months were 4times more likely to be stunted AOR (95%CI) 4(1.88-8.42), children who did not timelyinitiation of complementary feeding practice were AOR (95%CI (2.4(1.27-4.61) and0.01(1.27-4.61) respectively. and mothers who had no ANC follow up were 3.2 times morelikely to be stunted than mothers had for tines ANC follow up AOR (95%CI) 3.2(1.405-7.100). Conclusion: - Stunting was a highly prevalent problem in the study area with child’s age.Mother’s education, age of complimentary food started, size at birth, sex of children, age andantenatal care follow up were found to be associated factors of stunting. Recommendation: - in the study area, need to plan nutrition interventions to effectivelyaddress the nutritional conditions with participation of stakeholders and community at large Key Words: Stunting, Healthcare, Diet, Children, MerhabeteenStunting Healthcare Diet ChildrenThesis