Publications

Malnutrition is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity among under-five childrenin sub-Saharan Africa. Western Uganda has persistently registered highest levels of childmalnutrition despite being referred to as” food basket’’ of the country. The major objectiveof the study was to determine the prevalence of under nutrition among children under-fiveyears attending KIUTH Bushenyi district western Uganda. The study was a cross sectionaldescriptive study that used quantitative and qualitative methods. The study was carried outat pediatric ward and pediatric outpatient department of KIUTH. The study was carried outon children under-five years (3 to 59 months). Nutrition level was determined usinganthropometric measurements using the US national center for health statistics (NCHS)reference standards, which was approved for use in developing countries by the WHO. Heightfor age, weight for age and weight for length were used. Data was collected usingquestionnaires in which questions were asked to the care takers and also measurements ofweight, length or height were interpreted using z-score. Those children who were below -2SD were considered to be undernourished. Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel. In thestudy, stunting, wasting and underweight were 47%, 25% and 27% respectively. Almost half(47%) of children in the study were stunted which was comparable to the national prevalenceof 47.8% for western Uganda which is unacceptably high. This may be because the majorityof the participants had underlying diseases and diseases are known to cause under nutritionin children due to lack of appetite and diarrhea. In the study, the prevalence of undernutrition among children under- five years attending KIU TH were 47% stunted, 25% wastedand 27% underweight. The major determinants to under nutrition among children under fiveyears attending KIU TH Bushenyi district were; age (1-3 years), birth interval of 1 to 2 years,breast feeding for less than 6 months, maternal age of less than 20 years, maternal educationlevel (mothers who did not go to school and those who ended in primary school) and maternaloccupation (peasant and business).