Healthcare providers and caregivers’ perspectives on factors responsible for persistent malnutrition of under 5 children in Buhweju district, South Western Uganda; a phenomenological qualitative study

Abstract

Background Unacceptably high levels of childhood malnutrition have been registered in all regions of Uganda over the years. Buhweju district alone contributed 46% prevalence of childhood malnutrition to the 47.8% estimated national prevalence for the whole of western Uganda in 2014. This study assessed health provider and caregiver opinions on factors responsible for persistent malnutrition among under five children in Engaju and Nyakishana sub counties. Methods In this phenomenological qualitative study, we conducted two key informant interviews and six focus group discussions with Village Health Team members and care takers of under five children in Engaju and Nyakishana sub-counties respectively.to explore their opinions on the factors responsible for persistent malnutrition in Buhweju District in May 2018. Data were thematically analyzed manually and using Atals Ti 7.5. Results Historical and geographical challenges, poverty and economic occupation, parental alcoholism and domestic violence as well as inadequate childcare services were identified as factors responsible for persistent malnutrition among under five children in Engaju and Nyakishana sub counties. Conclusion Persistent malnutrition in under five children is mainly due to historical and geographical challenges and its associated factors that include poverty and economic occupation, parental alcoholism and domestic violence and inadequate childcare services. Thus literacy education for mothers and young adolescent boys and girls through engaging local leaders, local nongovernmental organizations and Companies operating in the district to contribute to social services provision would limit the domestic violence and increase sensitization on male responsibilities in the children care in Buhweju district.

Barriers and facilitators of severe acute malnutrition management at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia, descriptive phenomenological study

“…In this study poverty was mentioned as predisposing factor for severe acute malnutrition. This finding was in line with a study done in Uganda [ 33 ]. This may be due to relatively similar socio-economic status of the study participants of Uganda and Ethiopia.…”

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Associated With Malnutrition in Children Under 5 Years of Age at Rukunyu Hospital, Kamwenge District. A Cross Sectional Study.

“…This could be because some parents have tight schedules and do not get enough time to provide adequate care. This is in agreement with a study done in Nyakishana and Engaju in Buhweju district, South Western Uganda, where 83% of the caretakers for children below five years reported to be working for long hours in their gardens and tea farms that were very far from their homes (Abaasa, et al, 2021).…”

Cure rate and associated factors for children 6–59 months with severe acute malnutrition under the out patient therapeutic care programme in the health centres of Kabale District in Southwestern Uganda: a cross sectional study

“…However, the results of this study showed a slightly higher Cure rate than the one observed in a similar study done in Ghana in 2015 with a Cure rate of 33.6% (Mahama et al, [13]). The reason for this could be due to the number of factors like differences in the socioecomic status, geographical challenges as well as variation in the clinical expertise of the health care providers as observed by Abaasa and colleagues (Abaasa, et al, [31]).…”

“…Kabale district is approximately 420 km from Kampala the capital city of Uganda (Kabale district statstics report, [11]) and has an estimated population size of 248,700 people of whom 120,000 are males and 128,700 are females according to Uganda bureau of statistics 2020, Kabale. As a district, food insecurity, low socioeconomic staus, sub-optimal infant and young feeding practices, lack of quality drinking water and geographical challenges are some of the risk factors for malnutrition (Bakusuba, et al, [30] and Abaasa, et al, [31]).…”