M Owor1, J K Tumwine, J K Kikafunda. 1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University Medical School, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite Uganda's recent economic success, malnutrition is still an important public health problem and little information is available on socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: To determine socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition among children aged 0-60 months. DESIGN: A case control study. SETTING: Mulago Referral and Teaching Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. PATIENTS: Sixty six severely malnourished children (age 0-60 months) were matched, for age and sex, with 66 well nourished controls, and socio-economic, demographic, health facility utilisation and feeding practices were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Severe protein energy malnutrition was associated with young age of the caretaker (p = 0.005), living in a mud walled house (OR 2.44, CI 1.13-5.32), lack of breast feeding (OR 3.22, CI 1.31-8.02), failure to complete immunisation (OR 3.68, CI 1.53-9.011), no land ownership (OR 4.62, CI 2.09-10.3), and no ownership of livestock (OR 13.65, CI 3.60-60.84), by the caretaker. The level of formal education of the caretaker was not associated with severe malnutrition. CONCLUSION: There seems to be a strong association between severe malnutrition and some indicators of poverty, lack of breastfeeding, and failure to complete immunisation. Programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, promotion of breastfeeding and immunisation, will go a long way in preventing malnutrition.
BACKGROUND: Despite Uganda's recent economic success, malnutrition is still an important public health problem and little information is available on socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: To determine socio-economic risk factors for severe protein energy malnutrition among children aged 0-60 months. DESIGN: A case control study. SETTING: Mulago Referral and Teaching Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. PATIENTS: Sixty six severely malnourished children (age 0-60 months) were matched, for age and sex, with 66 well nourished controls, and socio-economic, demographic, health facility utilisation and feeding practices were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Severe protein energy malnutrition was associated with young age of the caretaker (p = 0.005), living in a mud walled house (OR 2.44, CI 1.13-5.32), lack of breast feeding (OR 3.22, CI 1.31-8.02), failure to complete immunisation (OR 3.68, CI 1.53-9.011), no land ownership (OR 4.62, CI 2.09-10.3), and no ownership of livestock (OR 13.65, CI 3.60-60.84), by the caretaker. The level of formal education of the caretaker was not associated with severe malnutrition. CONCLUSION: There seems to be a strong association between severe malnutrition and some indicators of poverty, lack of breastfeeding, and failure to complete immunisation. Programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, promotion of breastfeeding and immunisation, will go a long way in preventing malnutrition.
Authors: Zulfiqar A Bhutta; James A Berkley; Robert H J Bandsma; Marko Kerac; Indi Trehan; André Briend Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2017-09-21 Impact factor: 52.329
Authors: Mary Glover-Amengor; Isaac Agbemafle; Lynda Larmkie Hagan; Frank Peget Mboom; Gladys Gamor; Asamoah Larbi; Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon Journal: Arch Public Health Date: 2016-04-04