Undernutrition and associated factors among elderly people served in Public Servants Social Security Agency in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: Undernutrition in the elderly has adverse effects on physiological functions and various clinical outcomes. In Ethiopia, similar to many developing countries, there is a dearth of epidemiological data on the nutritional status of the elderly. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of undernutrition and associated factors among the elderly population enrolled in the Public Servants Social Security Agency in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 337 elderly adults from June to August 2020. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool Short Form assessed the nutritional status of the elderly. Data were entered in Epi Data software version 3.1 and transferred to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Ordinal logistic regression assessed factors associated with undernutrition, using variables with a p value less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Result: The magnitude of undernutrition was 16.6% and 45.1% were at risk of undernutrition. Being unable to read and write (odds ratio (OR) = 3.64; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.98–6.72), elderly with morbidities (OR = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.15–3.64), low dietary diversity score (OR = 3.52; 95% CI, 1.63–7.60), and elderly who were food insecure (OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37–0.95) were significantly associated with undernutrition. Conclusion: The magnitude of undernutrition among the elderly is a public health issue. Independent predictors include educational status, morbidity, dietary diversity, and food insecurity. Intervention programs need to focus on the elderly’s nutrition, access to healthy foods, and other health issues.

Magnitude of undernutrition and its association with dietary diversity among older persons in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2023

“…( 11 , 12 , 15 , 19 , 20 , 24 ) The prevalence of undernutrition ranged between 15⋅7 % in Harari ( 18 ) to 40⋅2 % in Dire Dawa. ( 23 ) With respect to the distribution of studies, three of the individual studies were obtained from Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa regions, ( 23 , 31 ) two from Oromia, ( 41 , 42 ) two from Harari region, ( 18 , 22 ) and other two studies from the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's (SNNP) Region. ( 13 , 16 ) However, there were no studies from Benishangule Gumize region, Gambela region, and Tigray region ( Table 1 ).…”

“…To examine the association between low dietary diversity score and undernutrition, only six studies with a total of 3266 Ethiopian elderly population were included. Four community-based studies from Amhara region ( 11 , 15 , 20 , 24 ) and two community-based studies from Harari region ( 22 ) and Metu, Oromia Region ( 21 ) reported the dietary diversity as a factor of undernutrition. Out of the six studies, five studies reported that low dietary diversity were significantly and positively associated with undernutrition.…”

“…(8)(9)(10) In Ethiopia, undernutrition among the elderly population is a common health problem and its magnitude range from 15⋅7 to 40⋅2 %. (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) Nutritional deficiencies in older persons have serious negative consequences which can increase morbidity and mortality, hospitalisation, development of ulcers, and infections. (12) Involuntary weight loss can result in a reduction in the ability to care for oneself, loss of mobility and independence, and a poorer quality of life.…”

Nutritional status of hospitalized elderly patients in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study of an important yet neglected problem in clinical practice

“…The occurrence of malnutrition results in deranged physiology and poor clinical outcomes. It affects the quality of life, increases the incidence of infection, causes sarcopenia, results in poor hospital outcomes, and increases the risk of life-threatening complications and mortality ( 9 , 13 , 15 , 19 , 20 ). As a result, malnutrition screen-and-treat policies are recommended in the hospital setting ( 21 ).…”