Factors Contributing to Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children Under Five in Nkondo, Buyende District

Abstract

A cross sectional descriptive transverse study was carried out in Nkondo sub-county, Buyende district from February 2014 up to November 2014 aimed at assessing factors contributing to severe acute malnutrition in the under fives in the area so as to develop strategies of improving the welfare health conditions of children. Severe acute Malnutrition in Uganda affects a large number of children under 5 years and remains a major public health problem in the country and Nkondo sub-county in particular. If cases of PEM in children under 5 years are not solved, it would lead to complications like poverty as a result of un productivity, mental retardation, frequent infections in children and increased morbidity and mortality.. A total of 160 respondents (mothers) of child bearing age / care takers who had children under five years of age and were residents of the sub-county were interviewed. The study revealed that 120 (75%) of the respondents had knowledge about PEM. A significant percentage of the respondents 32 (20%) did not exclusively breastfeed and of those who breastfed exclusively, 48 (37.5%)did so for less than the recommended six months.Due to cultural influences, 60 (37.5%) of the respondents reported weaning of their children before the age of 1 year, well below the recommended 18-24 month by WHO which could predispose them to SAM. With regard to the social-economic factors contributing to SAM, 116 (72.5%) of the respondents had a daily income of fewer than 1000 shs thus potentially limiting the purchasing power and their ability to access the required foods for their children From the findings, the study concluded that the majority of the respondents had some knowledge about SAM. However, a significant number of them had their children predisposed to the risk of developing SAM because of the inadequate knowledge about it, the socio-economic, and cultural factors that influenced them above. Therefore, the study went forward and recommended that there is a need for health promotion, information, education, and awareness about SAM in the area and improvement of the income per capita using a multi-sectoral collaboration approach between the MOH and local leaders with community participation and involvement.