Table 5 Factors associated with stunting among school age children in rural primary schools of East Dembia district, Northwest, Ethiopia (n = 821), 2020

Household Food security

unsecured

163 (33.7%)

321 (66.3%/)

3.19 (2.22,4.59)

2.57 (1.56,4.21) *

Secured

46 (13.7%)

289 (86.3%)

1

1

Dietary diversity practice

Lowest

71 (46.1%)

83 (53.9%)

6.08 (2.82,13.09)

4.61 (1.73,12.27) *

Medium

129 (21.7%)

465 (78.3%)

1.97 (0.95,4.07)

1.51 (0.61,3.75)

Highest

9 (12.3%)

64 (87.7%)

1

1

Intestinal parasite infestation

Infected

79 (50.0%)

79 (50.0%)

4.1 (2.84,5.91)

4.34 (2.52,7.48) *

Not infected

130 (19.6%)

533 (80.4%)

1

1

Hygiene practice

Not Good

158 (29.0%)

387 (71.0%)

1.8 (1.26,2.57)

1.64 (1.01,2.68) *

Good Hygiene

51 (18.5%)

225 (81.5%)

1

1

Age

6–10

40 (13.1%)

265 (86.9%)

1

1

11–14

169 (32.8%)

347 (67.2%)

3.23 (2.2,4.72)

3.73 (2.19, 6.34) *

Water source

Improved

123 (20.8%)

469 (79.2%)

1

1

Not improved

86 (37.6%)

143 (62.4%)

2.29 (1.64,3.2)

1.76 (1.07,2.91) *

Water treating

Treated

62 (19.8%)

251 (80.2%)

1

1

Not treated

146 (28.8%)

361 (71.2%)

1.64 (1.16,2.29)

1.1 (0.686,1.79)

Meal frequency

Two per day

18 (38.3%)

29 (61.7%)

2.06 (1.02,4.16)

1.32 (0.48,3.61)

Three per day

157 (25.0%)

470 (75.0%)

1.11 (0.73,1.69)

.89 (0.48,1.65)

Four and above per day

34 (23.1%)

113 (76.9)

1

1

Latrine type

Improved

62 (19.8%)

251 (80.2%)

1

1

Not improved

146 (28.8%)

361 (71.2%)

1.56 (1.02,2.38)

1.72 (1.03,2.89) *