Abebe Dukessa Dubiwak ^1,2* Firomsa Botorie ³ Bilisom Balcha ⁴ Abera Boterie ^5,6 Asonya Abera ⁷ Tesfaye Getachew Charkos ⁸ Godana Arero Dassie ⁸

• ¹ Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
• ² Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public health, Institute of health sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
• ³ Lega Tafo Lega Dadi Health centre, Sheger City, Oromia, Ethiopia., Sheger, Ethiopia
• ⁴ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
• ⁵ Department of health service management, Faculty of Public health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
• ⁶ Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• ⁷ College of Medicine and Health sciences, Arbaminch University, Arbaminch, Ethiopia
• ⁸ School of Public Health, Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia

Background: Stunting is a serious public health issue in Ethiopia; however, due to the scarcity of studies, little is known about the magnitude and predictors of stunting among under-fives in urban areas, especially those close to the capital city of the country (Addis Ababa). Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of stunting and its predictors among under-fiveyear-old children at Lega Tafo Lega Dadi Sub-city, Sheger city, Oromia, Ethiopia.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 566 under-five children using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were obtained using face-to-face interviews, structured questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements. Afterwards, data were entered into EpiData 4.7 version and exported to SPSS 26 version for analysis.Anthropometric indices were calculated by WHO Anthro version 3.2.2 software. A univariate binary and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify candidates' variables and associated factors, respectively. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength and significance of the association. The p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The statistically model fitness was checked using Hosmer and Lemshow.The prevalence of stunting was 18.9% (95% CI: 16%, 22%) among under-five children in our study setting. Children whose daily laborer mothers (AOR: 10.3), educated primary school (AOR: 4.3), daily laborer paternal (AOR: 4), average birth interval ≤24 months (AOR: 7.9), family size ≥5 (AOR: 7.3), child who had history of diarrhea (AOR: 6.3), frequency meal ≤3 times (AOR: 13.9), underweight child (AOR: 2.8), breastfeeding less than 2 years (AOR: 5.6), low dietary diversity (AOR: 6.3), and food insecurity (AOR: 3.6) were the predictors of stunting in under-five children.Around one-fifth of under-five children were stunted in the study setting. The family occupational and educational status, average birth interval, family size, child history of diarrhea, meal frequency per day, underweight, duration of breast feeding, inadequate dietary diversity, and household food insecurity were associated with stunting among under-five children in the study setting.