Prevalence And Factors Associated With Under Nutrition Among Children Below 5 Years In Buswale Sub County, Namayingo District

Abstract

Background: Under nutrition among children below five years is a major public health problem, especially in many low-income and middle- income countries. It is the underlying cause of child mortality in about 45% of all deaths reported for children below 5 years of age. Globally, about 7.7% of children are wasted, 24.5% are stunted and 15% are underweight. In developing countries nearly one-third of children are underweight or stunted

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of under nutrition and associated factors among children below 5 years in Buswale Sub County.

Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was employed to determine the prevalence of under nutrition and associated factors among children below 5 years in Buswale Sub County so that ways can be devised on how to curb the childhood under nutrition. A total of 206 caretaker of under-five children in Buswale Sub County were included in this study using simple random sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, Chi-square test was used.

Result: From the assessment done, prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasted were 40.4% and 44.3% and 37.1% respectively , caretaker being in the age group of 10-19years (OR=1.74, 0.03-4.36), 20-29years (1.35, 0.11-5.67), 30-39 years (1.64, 0.92-4.92); attained primary education (1.74, 0.73-6.50), secondary (2.53, 0.93-12.80), tertiary (3.50, 0.69-11.44); being single (OR=2.00, 0.19-9.59); peasant (.19, 1.07-6.53), employed (1.47, 0.02-3.23); having 3-5 under five children in the household (2.16, 0.14-3.94 were independently promoted under nutrition among children under-five.

Conclusion: childhood under nutrition was associated with caretakers’ age, caretakers’ education, caretaker occupation, marital status, and the number of under five children in the household. Therefore, community based nutrition program should be established and implemented at all community levels and there should be well trained man power.