Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–36 months in Kalafo district (riverine context) of Ethiopia

Abstract

Malnutrition remains prevalent and existing health problem globally. Particularly Undernutrition is a major public health issue in developing countries. Globally the causes of severe acute undernutrition varies across context. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of severe acute malnutrition to uncover contextual factors based on UNICEF conceptual framework, as there was no study done in a similar context in Ethiopia. Health facility based (health post) un-matched case control study with Key informant interview was conducted to identify determinant factors of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children between 6 and 36 months. 246 children (82 cases and 164) with their mothers or care takers participated the study which was conducted between December 20, 2019 to January 20, 2020 in Kalafo district in Shebele River. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated to identify the determinants of SAM among children aged 6–36 months using multivariate logistic regression. The odds of severe acute malnutrition was 2.28 (1.22, 4.26); 4.68 (2.29, 9.58); 2.85 (1.26, 6.45); 2.39 (1.16, 4.96) and 3.262 (1.46, 7.31) and 3.237 (1.45, 7.23); respectively for mothers with three or more under five children, Children with inadequate dietary diversity, experienced diarrhea in past 2 weeks, their mothers had not nutrition counselling during pregnancy and younger (6–11 and 12–17 months) children as compared to controls. The finding of this study reveals the main determinants of severe acute malnutrition in riverine context are multi-level. In addition to this, poor childcare and polygamy identified in qualitative finding. Decisive and multi-sectoral approach is required to addressing SAM in the riverine area.

Risk factors of severe acute malnutrition in children aged 12 to 23 months. A case-control study in the Kabinda Health Zone, Lomami Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

“…These results are close to those of similar studies conducted in Nepal [17], in certain rural areas of India [18], and in Ethiopia [19,20]. These results corroborate those of a study conducted by Ahmed AT et al in the Kalafo district of Ethiopia [21] which indicated that risks of suffering from SAM were higher among children from households with at least three children under the age of ve than among children from households with fewer than three children under the age of ve. This could be explained by the fact that increasing household size increases the burden of distributing resources, including food, to feed each member of the household especially young children.…”

Determinant of under nutrition among under five children in Ambo town during covid 19 pandemic. A community-based cross-sectional study

“…In line with other studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia, this study found that diarrheal disease in the last two weak before the interview was found to be positively associated with being underweight (13,16,26,33). This may be because, infectious diseases play a major role in undernutrition as they result in increased needs and high energy expenditure, lower appetite, nutrient losses due to vomiting, poor digestion, mal-absorption, and the utilization of nutrients and disruption of metabolic equilibrium (34).…”

Impact of Therapeutic Foods on Hematological Parameters of Malnourished Children Admitted at the Intensive Nutritional Recovery Center of Tessaoua, Maradi, Niger Republic

“…Children with age falling within the range of 6 to 11 months were predominant (22; 36.6%), followed by those falling within the range of 12 to 23 months (20; 33.3%). This was in line with studies done in Ethiopia [17,18], Niger [19], and Ghana [20].…”