Abstract:
Background: Worldwide, based on different measurement tools the prevalence of nutritional risk
varies ranging from 15 to 60%. A large number of patients are at nutritional risk when admitted to
hospital, and most of the patients develops under nutrition through hospital stay. The investigation
of nutritional risk and factors associated with nutritional risk right after admission could contribute
for better administration prevention strategies and also help to deliver nutrition therapy to be started
as soon as possible for patient in need. Despite of this significant impact there is very limited study
done in Ethiopia to assess the prevalence of nutritional risk and associated factors among admitted
patients.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of nutritional risk and associated
factors among adult admitted patients at Jimma University Medical Center, South west Ethiopia.
Method: Institution based Cross-sectional study design were used to conduct this study. The study
was conducted in Jimma University Medical Center from April 1 to May 7, 2017. Consecutivesampling technique was used to select 220 admitted patients. Data was collected by using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaires and the data was checked for completeness and
consistency, entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS Statistics Version 20 for
analysis. Descriptive statistics was conducted and the result were presented using Percentage table
and figures. Binary logistic regression was carried out and variables having P-value ≤ 0.05 declared
to be significant factor, finding were presented using Odds Ratio (OR) and with their 95% confidence intervals.
Result: The prevalence of nutritional risk was 58.2 %. According to this finding, factors significantly associated with nutritional risk were chronic illness (AOR=2.818, 95%, CI=1.384-5.737,
Age (AOR=3.283, 95%CI=1.692-6.368, educational level (AOR=3.316, 95%CI=1.706-6.444) and
presence gastric and intestinal problem during admission (OR=2.537, 95%=1.231-4.322) were significantly associated with nutritional risk.
Conclusions: The study found there is high Prevalence of nutritional risk at Jimma University
Medical Center, age of patients, educational level, presence of chronic illness and presence of gastric and intestinal problem were independent predictors of nutritional risk. Strength adult learning,
regular screening, prompt management of chronic diseases and early identification of gastric and
intestinal problem were recommended.
