Table 8 Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression predictors of stunting among school adolescent girls in Megale district, Afar Regional state, Northeastern Ethiopia, April, 2017 (N = 736)

Age in year

Early(10–13)

102 (35.7)

184 (64.3)

1.91 (1.05–3.49)

1.96 (1.02–3.74)*

Middle(14–16)

54 (20)

218 (80)

0.86 (0.45–1.64)

0.75 (0.38–1.49)

Late(17–19)

40 (22.5)

138 (77.5)

1

1

Menarche started

No

162 (30.1)

368 (69.4)

2.23 (1.24–3.99)

2.42 (1.03–5.71)*

Yes

34 (16.5)

172 (83.5)

1

1

Availability of home latrine

No

164 (28.9)

404 (71.1)

1.73 (0.95–3.15)

3.26 (1.15–4.42) *

Yes

32 (19)

136 (81)

1

1

Household food insecure

Yes

22 (47.8)

24 (52.2)

2.72 (1.16–6.38)

2.88 (1.15–7.21)*

No

174 (25.2)

516 (74.8)

1

1

Grade level of female students

4th

64 (24.1)

202 (75.9)

1.22 (.060–2.49)

0.51 (0.22–1.20)

5th

68 (40.5)

100 (59.5)

2.62 (1.26–5.45)

1.18 (0.49–2.80)

6th

18 (17.6)

84 (82.4)

0.827 (0.33–2.09)

0.37 (0.13–1.07)

7th

18 (28.1)

46 (71.9)

1.51 (0.57–3.98)

1.23 (0.42–3.60)

8th

28 (20.6)

108 (79.4)

1

1

Source of water

Unprotected

132 (28.7)

328 (71.3)

1.33 (0.82–2.17)

0.38 (0.18–3.83)

Protected

64 (23.2)

212 (76.8)

1

1

Eating snacks

No

88 (32.4)

184 (67.6)

1.58 (0.98–

2.53)

1.21 (0.71–2.07)

Yes

108 (23.3)

356 (76.7)

1

1

Family monthly income level (ETB)

< 500

136 (28.7)

338 (71.3)

0.930 (0.49–1.78)

0.63 (0.29–1.39)

500–1000

28 (17.9)

128 (82.1)

0.51 (0.22–1.15)

0.43 (0.17–1.05)

> 1000

32 (30.2)

74 (69.8)

1

1

Dietary diversity score

DDS < 4

172 (27.0)

466 (73.0)

1.38 (0.99–2.51)

0.34 (0.15–3.22)

DDS ≥ 4

24 (24.5)

74 (75.5)

1

1