Publications

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2024 Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry EURASIAN EXPERIMENT JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH

Assessment of the Relationship between Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors and Malnutrition among Children Aged 0 to 59 Months in Jinja District South Eastern Part of Uganda

Agumenaitwe Stephen

Undernourished children in low-income nations continue to be a major public health problem, especially in areaslike Jinja District in southeast Uganda. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association betweenmalnutrition and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics in Jinja District children between the ages of 0 and59 months. Data from 500 families chosen by multistage sampling were gathered using structured questionnairesin a cross-sectional research methodology. Using statistical techniques like chi-square tests and logistic regression,a variety of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were examined in connection to malnutrition indicators,such as stunting, wasting, and underweight. The results showed that a complicated interaction betweendemographic and socioeconomic variables influences child malnutrition. Maternal age, availability to clean water,education level of the mother, and family income were all strongly correlated with the results of malnutrition.Furthermore, differences in the frequency of malnutrition were noted between age groups and quintiles of familyaffluence. In Jinja District and other comparable contexts, our results highlight the significance of focusedinterventions addressing socioeconomic disparities and enhancing access to vital resources in the fight against childmalnutrition. In order to reduce the complex factors that contribute to child malnutrition, effective initiatives shouldprioritize improving access to healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities