Table 1

Characteristics of adolescents in Southwest Ethiopia by school absenteeism

Characteristics

Non-absentees [n 1660]

Absentees [n 349]

P

Gender

Male

51.8%

46.4%

0.067

Female

48.2%

53.6%

Age (Years) †

14.8 (1.3)

14.7 (1.3)

0.277

Residence*

Urban

36.9%

36.7%

0.216

Semi-urban

28.5%

32.7%

Rural

34.6%

30.7%

Adolescent food insecurity

Food secure

82.1%

67.0%

< 0.001

Food insecure

17.8%

33.0%

Severe household food insecurity

No

63.7%

49.0%

< 0.001

Yes

36.3%

51.0%

Illness during the last one month before the survey

Yes

88.9%

75.1%

< 0.001

No

11.1%

24.9%

Being part of female headed household

No

82.4%

80.5%

0.402

Yes

17.6%

19.5%

Number of days in a week the adolescent has to work for at least 1 hour†

1.9(1.6)

2.3(1.3)

< 0.001

The highest grade the adolescent aspires to complete†

13.7(6.9)

13.3(4.9)

0.006

The highest grade attained at round 2 of the survey†

6.2(2.5)

5.9(2.3)

0.047

*"Semi-urban" refers to small towns including Yebbu, Serbo and Dedo and "urban" refers to Jimma City.

Means and proportions were compared using t-test and Chi-square tests, respectively.

^†Means with standard deviations in brackets are shown, unless otherwise indicated.

Percentages are computed out of row totals.

Belachew et al. Nutrition Journal 2011 10:29   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-29