Determinant of acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months attending public health facilities of jimma town, south west Ethiopia: matched case control study

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.