Table 2

Predictors of school absenteeism in adolescents in Southwest Ethiopia

Predictors of school absenteeism

β

AOR^a [95% CI^b]

P

Adolescent food insecurity

Food insecure

0.57

1.77[1.34-2.33]

< 0.001

Food secure [reference]

1.00

Illness within the last one month before the survey

Yes

0.82

2.26[1.68-3.06]

< 0.001

No [reference]

1.00

Severe household food insecurity

Yes

0.48

1.62[1.27-2.06]

< 0.001

No [reference]

1.00

The highest grade the adolescent aspires to complete

-0.08

0.92[0.88-0.96]

< 0.001

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

0.15

1.16[1.07-1.26]

< 0.001

^†"Semi-urban" refers to small towns including Yebbu, Serbo and Dedo and "urban" refers to Jimma city.

Parameter estimates are adjusted for place of residence, gender of the adolescent, gender of the household head and the tabulated variables.

^aAdjusted odds ratios as obtained from a multivariable logistic regression model.

^bConfidence intervals, as obtained from a multivariable logistic regression model.

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