Table 7 Binary logistic regression analyses of potential risk factors associated with underweight among children at selected primary schools in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2014

Parasitic infection

Infected

28 (9.6)

123 (42)

151 (51.5)

2.24 (1.31-3.84)**

2.43 (1.40-4.22)**

Not infected

48 (16.4)

94 (32.1)

142 (48.5)

1

1

Meal frequency

≤ 3times a day

36 (12.3)

131 (44.7)

167 (57)

1.69 (1.00-2.86)

1.77 (1.03-3.05)*

>3 times/day

40 (13.7)

86 (29.4)

126 (43)

1

1

Sex of students

Male

45 (15.4)

102 (34.8)

147 (50.2)

1.64 (0.96-2.78)

1.76 (1.02-3.04)*

Female

31 (10.6)

115 (39.2)

146 (49.8)

1

1

Family monthly income (ETB^@)

<500

12 (4.1)

41 (14)

53 (18.1)

0.96 (0.42-2.34)

500-1500

47 (16)

120 (41)

167 (57)

1.29 (0.68-2.44)

>1500

17 (5.8)

56 (19.1)

73 (24.9)

1

Mother education

Illiterate

28 (9.6)

66 (22.5)

94 (32.1)

1.56 (0.79-3.06)

Primary school

29 (9.9)

81 (27.6)

110 (37.5)

1.32 (0.68-2.56)

Secondary school & above

19 (6.5)

70 (23.9)

89 (30.4)

1

Hand washing habit

Sometimes

31 (10.6)

100 (34.1)

131(44.7)

1.24 (0.73-2.11)

Always

45 (15.4)

117 (39.9)

162 (55.3)

1

Shoe wearing habit

Sometimes

31 (10.6)

100 (34.1)

131 (44.7)

1.24 (0.73-2.11)

Always

45 (15.4)

117 (39.9)

162 (55.3)

1

Fingernail cleanness

Not clean

12 (4.1)

41 (14)

53 (18.1)

1.24 (0.61-2.51)

Clean

64 (21.8)

176 (60.1)

240 (81.9)

1

Age (years)

7-8

25 (8.5)

93 (31.7)

118 (40.3)

1.53 (0.88-2.65)

9-10

51 (17.4)

124 (42.3)

175 (59.7)

1