Publications

Globally there are 104 million children under five years of age with underweight and 171 million stunted. At thesame time, it was found that about 43 million children under five were overweight or obese. About 90% of stuntedchildren live in 36 developing countries including Uganda and children under two years of age are the most affectedby undernutrition. Malnutrition is usually indicated by growth failure and contributes to 3.5-5 million annual deathsamong under-five children. The study generally aimed at analysing the nutritional status and associated socioeconomicfactors among children aged below 5 years attending the ART clinic at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital(HRRH). Specifically, the study was to determine how HIV increases the risk of undernutrition in children infectedwith HIV; determine the prevalence of malnutrition among HIV-positive children below 5 years, and also determinethe socio-economic factors associated with malnutrition among HIV-positive children below 5 years of age. A crosssectionaland descriptive design was used in the study. The sample population was attained by simple randomsampling with a sample size of 210 respondents being targeted. The study found that malnutrition is one of themajor challenges affecting under-five children in districts who attend treatment in the HRRH ART clinic. Thecommon form of malnutrition included stunting, wasting and underweight. Results from the analysis confirm thatthe age of a child and maternal occupation was one of the most significant determinants of malnutrition. The study,therefore, underscores the age groups prone to malnutrition challenges as well as the particular occupations amongwomen that could pose a risk of malnutrition to under-five children. This then gives a focus to policymakers in thedesigning of strategies aimed at combating malnutrition among children below five years attending ART clinics.