Factors contributing to increased cases of malnutrition among children below five years in Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement, Adjumani District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71020/g56g6655Keywords:
Factors, Increased cases of malnutrition, Children below five years, Nyumanzi refugee settlementAbstract
Background:Globally, close to 45.4 million deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. The aim of the study is to assess the factors contributing to increased cases of malnutrition among children below five years in Nyumanzi refugee settlement, Adjumani district.
Methodology:
Cross-sectional study using a quantitative research approach. Simple random sampling was used to select the 60 respondents. Calculators and manual coding were used for data analysis, and the data were presented in the form of tables, bar graphs, and pie charts.
Results:(75%) Their children were in the age group (1-3 years); the majority of the respondents (66.7%) had female Children (50%) who were Dinka by tribe; (66.7%) had children who weighed < 18.5 kg. Socio-economic factors contributing to increased cases of malnutrition were Large family size (91.7%), increased poverty levels (83.3%), inadequate meals (58.3%), and inadequate access to safe water (53.3%). The environmental factors contributing to increased cases of malnutrition among children below five years were inadequate access to safe water (53.3%), inadequate access to land for agriculture (96.7%), and poor hygiene practices (75%). Health-related factors contributing to increased cases of malnutrition were poor exclusive breastfeeding practices (87%), poor health-seeking behaviour (53.3%), partial immunization practices (62%), and persistent illnesses (50%) in children.
Conclusion:
Family size, poverty, inadequate access to land for agriculture, poor hygiene, inadequate exclusive breastfeeding practices, poor health-seeking behaviour, partial immunization practices, and persistent illnesses were the major factors contributing to increased cases of malnutrition among children below five years.
Recommendations:Community health workers should intensively conduct health education programs and monitoring to address poor hygiene, safe storage of drinking water, and routine nutritional assessment for children below five years.
References
1. Abinya A. Cecilia. (2018). " Prevalence of malnutrition and related factors among children aged 6-60."
2. Gebre Abel, Surender Reddy P, Afework Mulugeta, Yayo Sedik, Molla Kahssay. (2019). "Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors among Under-Five Children in Pastoral Communities of Afar Regional State, Northeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study." Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9187609
3. Kalu R.E., Etim E.K.D. (2018). "Factors associated with malnutrition among under-five children in developing countries." Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, vol.24. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gipas.v24i1.8.
4. Katarybwe, Mujuni Mary. (2017). "Factors influencing prevalence of malnutrition among children aged five years and below attending Ishaka Adventist Hospital in Bushenyi District."
5. Namusoke M and Atuhaire S. 2018. "Factors contributing to malnutrition among Under-Fives: A Survey of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda; Journal of Health Science Studies."
6. UBOS (2022). Malnutrition cases in Uganda
7. UNICEF. (2022). "Child health and nutrition in emergencies."
8. USAID. (2018). "Healthcare accessibility in refugee settlements."
9. WHO. (2024). "Global state of malnutrition."
10. WHO. (2023). "Malnutrition."
1. Abinya A. Cecilia. (2018). " Prevalence of malnutrition and related factors among children aged 6-60."
2. Gebre Abel, Surender Reddy P, Afework Mulugeta, Yayo Sedik, Molla Kahssay. (2019). "Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors among Under-Five Children in Pastoral Communities of Afar Regional State, Northeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study." Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9187609
3. Kalu R.E., Etim E.K.D. (2018). "Factors associated with malnutrition among under-five children in developing countries." Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, vol.24. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gipas.v24i1.8.
4. Katarybwe, Mujuni Mary. (2017). "Factors influencing prevalence of malnutrition among children aged five years and below attending Ishaka Adventist Hospital in Bushenyi District."
5. Namusoke M and Atuhaire S. 2018. "Factors contributing to malnutrition among Under-Fives: A Survey of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda; Journal of Health Science Studies."
6. UBOS (2022). Malnutrition cases in Uganda
7. UNICEF. (2022). "Child health and nutrition in emergencies."
8. USAID. (2018). "Healthcare accessibility in refugee settlements."
9. WHO. (2024). "Global state of malnutrition."
10. WHO. (2023). "Malnutrition."
1. Abinya A. Cecilia. (2018). " Prevalence of malnutrition and related factors among children aged 6-60."
2. Gebre Abel, Surender Reddy P, Afework Mulugeta, Yayo Sedik, Molla Kahssay. (2019). "Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors among Under-Five Children in Pastoral Communities of Afar Regional State, Northeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study." Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9187609
3. Kalu R.E., Etim E.K.D. (2018). "Factors associated with malnutrition among under-five children in developing countries." Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, vol.24. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gipas.v24i1.8.
4. Katarybwe, Mujuni Mary. (2017). "Factors influencing prevalence of malnutrition among children aged five years and below attending Ishaka Adventist Hospital in Bushenyi District."
5. Namusoke M and Atuhaire S. 2018. "Factors contributing to malnutrition among Under-Fives: A Survey of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda; Journal of Health Science Studies."
6. UBOS (2022). Malnutrition cases in Uganda
7. UNICEF. (2022). "Child health and nutrition in emergencies."
8. USAID. (2018). "Healthcare accessibility in refugee settlements."
9. WHO. (2024). "Global state of malnutrition."
10. WHO. (2023). "Malnutrition."
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