%0 Journal Article
%T Prevalence and Associated Factors of Acute Malnutrition Among 6-59 Month Children in Adi-Harush and Hitsats Refugee Camps in Tigray Region Northern Ethiopia, 2017
%J American Journal of Life Sciences
%@ 2328-5737
%D 2018
%X Background: Wasting is characterized by low weight for height and it is common in developing countries. Wasted children have lower resistance to infection, impaired learning ability and reduce economic productivity. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in Adi-harush and Hitsats Eritrean refugee camps. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to April 15/2017, at Adi-Harush and Hitsats Refugee Camps. A total of 471 subjects were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique and Pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify factors associated with acute malnutrition. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to show the strength of associations and variables with p-values of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The finding of this study revealed that 37%, 21.6% and 11% of children were stunted, underweight and wasted respectively. Child age 48-57 months (AOR= 0.12, 95%CI: 0.03-0.39), frequency of feeding less than 3 times a day (AOR= 1.95, 95%CI: 1.001-3.8) and not exclusive breast feeding (AOR= 2.51, 95%CI: 1.17-5.40) were significantly associated with wasting. Conclusion: The prevalence of wasting (11%) in the study area is very high. Frequency of feeding, exclusive breast-feeding and child age were significantly associated with wasting. Improve community health education for pregnant and lactating mothers and giving exclusive breast feeding for the childrenĄ¯s are one of the prevention mechanisms for child wasting
%K Acute Malnutrition
%K Ethiopia
%K Under Five Children
%K Adi-harush and Hitsats
%U http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/journal/paperinfo?journalid=118&doi=10.11648/j.ajls.20180605.11