Abstract:
Background: Globally, 52 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition and every year
3.1 million children die of acute malnutrition. In Ethiopia, acute malnutrition among under five
year’s children is one of the potential challenges in achieving sustainable development goals in
reducing child mortality.
Objective: This study was aimed to determine factors associated with acute malnutrition among
children aged 6-59 months attending public health facilities of Jimma town, South-west of
Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution based age matched case-control study design was employed from March to
April 2017. Two hundred thirty four sampled children (78 acutely malnourished and 156 none
acutely malnourished) was randomly selected. Data were collected by using semi structured and
pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurement were taken by
calibrated instruments. Data entry was done by Epi data version 3.1 and analysis was done by
SPSS 21.0 statistical software.
Result: Almost all children (97.5% cases and 98.3% controls) were fed breast milk in their life
time. Similarly, about two third of study participants were exclusively breastfed for six months.
Findings of this study showed that lack of maternal education [AOR, 4.08 (95% CI: 1.46, 11.40)],
poor maternal knowledge about child feeding [AOR, 5.97(95% CI: 1.83, 19.44)], being female
children [AOR, 2.99 (95% CI: 1.07, 8.38)], having more than five family members [AOR, 3.24
(95% CI: 1.14,9.21)], low wealth index [AOR, 3.76 (95% CI: 1.24,11.38)], less frequent handwashing practice [AOR, 5.57(95% CI: 1.82,16.97)], diarrhoea report [AOR, 3.58(95% CI: 1.15,
11.07)] and bottle feeding [AOR, 3.98(95% CI: 1.29, 12.36)] were positively associated with acute
malnutrition among children attending public health facilities of Jimma town.
Conclusion and recommendation: Findings of this study indicated that socio-demographic
factors like gender, family size, maternal education, poor child feeding practises and household
wealth index were significantly associated with acute malnutrition among children attending public
health facilities of Jimma town. Therefore, emphasis should be given to strengthen caregivers’
socio-economic status and knowledge of child feeding practises.
