Prevalence and Risk Factors of Child Malnutrition in Community Based Nutrition Program Implementing and Nonimplementing Districts from South East Amhara, Ethiopia
Background: The burden of malnutrition in Ethiopia is the second highest in sub Saharan Africa. According to the recently released Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey report of 2011, the prevalence of child stunting, underweight and wasting were 44% stunted, 10% wasted and 29% underweight respectively. Objectives: To determine the magnitude and risk factors of malnutrition among 6 - 59 months children from Community Based Nutrition Program implementing and nonimplementing districts from south east Amhara. Methodology: Descriptive community based, cross sectional study in which a total of 987 children (620 from Community Based Nutrition im-plementing and 367 from nonimplementing districts) were sampled. A structured questionnaire was administered to mothers or caregivers of the children. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard procedures. Nutritional status of the children was determined based on Z scores of < ？2 or >= ？2 Standard Deviation. Logistic regression was used to test significant asso-ciations between outcome and factor variables. Setting: Rural communities from Artuma Fursi and Kemissie districts. Results: A total of 987 children of 6 - 59 months of age and 987 mothers/care- givers had participated in the study, giving a response rate of 99%. The percentage of male and female children in CBNP district was 330 (53.2%) and 290 (46.8%) and that of non Community Based Nutrition Program (CBNP) district was 192 (52.3%) & 175 (47.7%) respectively. The prev-alence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 60.6%, 31.1%, 12.6% and 39.0%, 27.5%, 14.7% in CBNP and nonCBNP implementing districts, respectively. The possible risk factors for child malnutrition were area specific and different for the two districts. Conclusion: Child under nutrition is a serious public health problem in both districts, so that holistic programs need to be designed and implemented according to the guidelines.
Cite this paper
Tariku, B. , Mulugeta, A. , Tsadik, M. and Azene, G. (2014). Prevalence and Risk Factors of Child Malnutrition in Community Based Nutrition Program Implementing and Nonimplementing Districts from South East Amhara, Ethiopia. Open Access Library Journal, 1, e425. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1100425.
Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (2009) Community-Based Sub-Component of Ethiopian National Nutrition Program Baseline Survey Report. ACIPH, Addis Ababa.
Mekonnen, A., Jones, N. and Tefera, B. (2005) Tackling Child Malnutrition in Ethiopia: Do the Sustainable Development Poverty Reduction Programme’s Underlying Policy Assumptions Reflect Local Realities? Young Lives, Save the Children UK, Working Paper No.19.
Central Statistical Authority (CSA), Ethiopia (2012) Demographic and Health Survey Report at National Level. CSA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ICF International Calverton, Maryland, USA.
Melkie, E. (2007) Assessment of Nutritional Status of Preschool Children of Gumbrit, North West Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 21, 125-129.
Save the Children (2007) The Causes of Malnutrition in Children under 3 in the Somali Region of Ethiopia Related to Household Caring Practices Preliminary Report. Save the Children (UK), Ethiopia.
Mulugeta, A., Hagos, F., Kruseman, G., Linderhof, V., Stoecker, B. and Abraha, Z., et al. (2010) Child Malnutrition in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. East African Medical Journal, 87, 248-254.
Teshome, B., Kogi-Makau, W., Getahun, Z. and Taye, G. (2009) Magnitude and Determinants of Stunting in Children under Five Years of Age in Food Surplus Region of Ethiopia: The Case of West Gojam Zone. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 23, 98-106.
Ethiopian Development Research Institute (Save the Children) (2005) Tackling Child Malnutrition in Ethiopia: To What Extents Do the SDPRP’s Underlying Policy Assumptions Reflect Local Realities? Save the Children (UK), Ethiopia.
World Health Organization (1997) WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Program of Nutrition. WHO Document No. WHO/NUT/97.4, WHO, Geneva.
Malla, S. and Shrestha, S.M. (2004) Complementary Feeding Practices and its Impact on Nutritional Status of under Two Old Children in Urban Areas of the Kathmandu, Nepal. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 2, 1-4.
Hien, N.N. and Hoa, N.N. (2009) Nutritional Status and Determinants of Malnutrition in Children under Three Years of Age in Nghean, Vietnam. Asian Network for Scientific Information. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8, 958-964. http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2009.958.964
Girma, W. and Genebo, T. (2002) Determinants of Nutritional Status of Women and Children in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ethiopia Health and Nutrition Research Institute, ORC Macro, Calverton.
Kielmann, N.S., Kielmann, A.A. and Grewal, O.K. (1976) Etiological Determinants of Protein Calorie Undernutrition in a Rural Child Community. Acta Tropica, 33, 342-368.
Levinson, F.J. (1974) Morinda: An Economic Analysis of Malnutrition among Young Children in Rural India. Cornell-MIT International Nutrition Policy Series, Cambridge.
Sarni, R.O., Carvalho, M.F., de Monte, C.M., Albuquerque, Z.P. and Souza, F.I. (2009) Anthropometric Evaluation, Risk Factors for Malnutrition, and Nutritional Therapy for Children in Teaching Hospitals in Brazil. Jornal de Pediatria, 85, 223-228. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572009000300007
Gemechu, A. (2000) Determinants of Nutritional Status of Children in Amhara Region. M.Sc. Thesis in Demography, DTRC/IDR, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Valverde, V., MejIa-Pivaral, V., Delgado, H., Belizan, J., Klein, R.E. and Martorell, R. (1981) Income and Growth Retardation in Poor Families with Similar Living Conditions in Rural Guatemala. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 10, 24l- 248.
Schoenbaum, M., Tulchinsky, T.H. and Abed, Y. (1995) Gender Differences in Nutritional Status and Feeding Patterns among Infants in the Gaza Strip. American Journal of Public Health, 85, 965-969. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1615541
World Health Organization (1984) Indications and Contraindications for Vaccines Used in the Expanded Programme on Immunization. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 62, 357-366.
Devadas, R.P., Rajalakshmi, R. and Kaveri, R. (1980) Influence of Family Income and Parent’s Education on the Nutritional Status of Pre-School Children. Indian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, 17, 237.
Alderman, H. (2006) Determinants of Malnutrition in Senegal: Individual, Household, Community Variables, and Their Interaction. World Bank PSE Paris and UMR 379, Marseille.
Bardosono, S., Sastroamidjojo, S. and Lukito, W. (2007) Determinants of Child Malnutrition during the 1999 Economic Crisis in Selected Poor Areas of Indonesia. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 16, 512-526.
Essential Intervention for Reducing Malnutrition in Infants and Young Children (2008) A Leadership Agenda for Action. The Coalition for Sustainable Nutrition Security in India. September.
Amsalu, S. and Tigabu, Z. (2006) Risk Factors for Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children under the Age of Five: A Case-Control Study. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 22, 21-25.
Keusch, G.T. and Scrimshaw, N.S. (1986) Selective Primary Health Care: Strategies for Control of Disease in the Developing World. XXIII. Control of Infection to Reduce the Prevalence of Infantile and Childhood Malnutrition. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 8, 273-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/clinids/8.2.273
Marsden, P.D. (1964) The Sukuta Project: A Longitudinal Study of Health in Gambian Children from Birth to 18 Months of Age. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 58, 455-488. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(64)90101-4
Mata, L.J., Kromal, R.A., Urrutia, J.J. and Garcia, B. (1977) Effect of Infection on Food Intake and the Nutritional State: Perspectives as Viewed from the Village. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 30, 1215-1227.
Martorell, R., Habicht, J.P., Yarbrough, C., Lechtig, A., Klein, R.E. and Western, K.A. (1975) Acute Morbidity and Physical Growth in Rural Guatamalan Children. American Journal of Diseases of Children, 129, 1296-1301.
Briend, A. (1990) Is Diarrhoea a Major Cause of Malnutrition among Underfives in Developing Countries? A Review of Available Evidence. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 44, 611-628.
Martorell, R., Leslie, J. and Moock, P.R. (1984) Characteristics and Determinants of Child Nutritional Status in Nepal. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 39, 74-86. http://www.ajcn.org
USAID. Evaluation of the Growth Monitoring and Promotion Component of the Integrated Care for Children and Women at the Community Level (AIEPI AINM-C). Calidad en Salud, University Research Co., LLC (URC), Las Margaritas. http://www.urc-chs.com/uploads/resourcefiles/CalidadenSaludAIEPIAINM-CMay08.pdf
