Prevalence of Malnutrition and Associated Factors among under Five years Children in Bule Hora Woreda, Borena Zone, Oromia Regional Stat

Abstract

Background: Child nutritional status is an essential component of a country’s overall human development. It continues to be widespread in a population of more than 200 million children under five (one in three children) in developing countries. To improve the nutritional status and living conditions in communities, it is necessary to determine the nature, magnitude and cause of malnutrition. This is a reason why this study focused to study the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors in Bule Hora, Borena zone. Objective: To assess the magnitude and factors associated with nutritional status in children under five years age in Bule Hora Woreda, Borena Zone. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional quantitative study design was used to assess the magnitude and factors associated with malnutrition in children less than five years of age.A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 796 children paired with their mothers or caregivers. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify determinants of nutritional status. Degree of association between dependent and independent variables was assessed using OR and 95% CI. Statistical association was declared as p-value less than 0.05. Result: Result:The result of the study indicated that 47.6% of the children were stunted, 29.2% were underweight, and 13.4 % wasted. Prevalence of severe stunting, underweight and wasting were 20.2%, 6% and 3.9% respectively.Presence of diarrhea, being male by sex,uneducated fathers and total number of children ever born to a mother were significantly associated with underweight. Presence of diarrhea, being male by sex, Pre –lacteal feeding and not using family planning methods were significantly associated with stunting and presence of diarrhea,age at which additional food given and not using family planning were predictors ofwasting. Conclusion: As the prevalence of malnutrition among the children was found high, it is recommended that intervention should focus on prevention and control of diarrheal disease through improving access to safe and adequate water supply, immunization, housing, sanitation and hygiene practicesandon improving promotion of nutrition education and utilization of family planning.