Table 4 Binary logistic regression analysis of potential risk factors associated with undernutrition among children at selected primary schools in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2014

Family monthly income (ETB^@)

<500

53 (13.9)

53 (15.9)

106 (27.7)

3.36 (1.65-8.81)**

5.87 (2.61-13.23)**

500-1500

92 (24.1)

123 (32.3)

215 (56.3)

2.51 (1.30-4.83)*

5.51(2.45-12.40)**

>1500

14 (3.7)

47 (12.3)

61 (16)

1

1

Meal frequency

≤ 3times a day

106 (27.7)

182 (47.6)

288 (75.4)

2.22 (1.38-3.56)**

4.11(2.23-7.59)**

>3 times/day

53 (13.9)

41 (10.7)

94 (24.6)

1

1

Parasitic infection

Infected

71 (18.6)

129 (33.8)

200 (52.4)

1.70 (1.13-2.56)*

1.60 (1.03-2.46)*

Not infected

88 (23)

94 (24.6)

182 (47.6)

1

1

Sex of students

Male

90 (23.6)

103 (27)

193 (50.5)

1.52 (1.01-2.29)*

1.46 (0.95-2.26)

Female

69 (18.1)

120 (31.4)

189 (49.5)

1

1

Age (years)

7-8

42 (11)

76 (19.9)

118 (30.9)

1.36 (0.84-2.19)

1.82 (0.99-3.34)

9-10

75 (19.6)

100 (26.2)

175 (45.8)

1.62 (0.92-2.84)

1.35 (0.77-2.38)

11-13

42 (11)

47 (12.3)

89 (23.3)

1

1

Hand washing habit

Sometimes

81 (21.2)

131 (34.3)

212 (55.5)

1.37(0.91-2.07)

Always

78 (20.4)

92 (24.1)

170 (44.5)

1

Shoe wearing habit

Sometimes

80 (20.9)

121 (31.7)

201 (52.6)

1.17(0.78-1.76)

Always

79 (20.7)

102 (26.7)

181 (47.4)

1

Mother education

Illiterate

55 (14.4)

70 (18.3)

125 (32.7)

0.69 (0.41-1.16)

Primary school

64 (16.8)

79 (20.7)

143 (37.4)

0.67 (0.40-1.11)

Secondary school & above

40 (10.5)

74 (19.4)

114 (29.8)

1

Fingernail cleanness

Not clean

47 (12.3)

70 (18.3)

117 (30.6)

0.92(0.59-1.43)

Clean

112 (29.3)

153 (40.1)

265 (69.4)

1