Health, nutrition and well-being: preliminary findings from the 2023–24 Young Lives Survey (round 7): Ethiopia

Report

This factsheet sets out headline findings on health, nutrition and well-being from Round 7 of the Young Lives survey in Ethiopia, carried out in 2023–24 when the Younger Cohort was 22 years old and the Older Cohort was 29. It outlines changes in education and learning over time by comparing the Younger Cohort at age 22 with the Older Cohort at the same age in 2016, and exploring the Younger Cohort's progression from age 15 to 22. The headlines on health, nutrition and well-being in Ethiopia are: 

• While the prevalence of underweight participants at age 22 has decreased across the two cohorts, underweight rates remain alarmingly high.
• The number of Young Lives households that are food insecure has remained persistently high over the last decade.
• Early-life inequalities are associated with food insecurity 20 years later.
• Subjective well-being has improved among the Younger Cohort since they were 12 years old, despite a notable decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• One in five of the Younger Cohort reported symptoms compatible with anxiety or depression, and levels of anxiety have increased since the pandemic.
• Stress is widespread, with six out of ten participants reporting symptoms indicative of at least moderate stress.
• Participants from regions directly affected by armed conflict reported worse nutrition, food security and mental health.

This factsheet is one of a series sharing headline findings from Round 7. In addition to health, nutrition and well-being, there are factsheets on education and learning, and work and family lives in Ethiopia, India and Peru. You can access all the factsheets on our publications page.

Authors: Quigua, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Young Lives
• Series: Young Lives Technical Notes
• Place of publication: Oxford, UK
• Publication date: 2025-03-12
• Language: English
• Keywords: health and well-being; nutrition