Abstract:
Background : Globally malnutrition among under five children remain common issue of
public health with its related global mortality rate of 45%. This health issue was found to be
most dominant in developing countries including Rwanda.
In Rwanda, RDHS of 2014-2015 reported that 36.7% of under five years children were
stunted, while 14% had severe malnutrition ; yet little is known about the risk factors
associated with severe acute malnutrition itself.
Aim of the study:The current study aimed at identifying the factors contributing to SAM
among under five years children.
Methods: the quantitative research approach with a descriptive cross-sectional study design,
using convenience sampling method was utilized to obtain a sample size of 92 participants.
To collect data from participants, an adopted self administered questionnaire was utilized
after getting permission from its author. The data collection took three months. Data were
entered and analyzed using SPSS( version 23). Inferencial statistics was perfomed, fisher test
was calculated , A p-value of 0.05 was considered as significant.
Result of study:The proportion of severe acute malnutrition was high at 55 (59.8.%),the
factors associated to severe acute malnutrition were the lack of education level, parents with
lower monthly income were likely to suffer from SAM (OR:1.348, : ≥100.00), The
unemployement was associated with severe acute malnutrition (OR: 1 compared to the
employed parents OR: 0.544).
CONLUSION:This study is limited on social-Demographic, Economic and Health related
Factors associated with severe acute malnutrition among under five years were research
findings confirm that proportion (59.8%) of SAM, a half of under five hospitalized for
malnutrition at Kibagabaga, Moreover the children whose parents live style that is alcohol
users were more associated with severe acute (OR=1.541,P=0.031,95%CI=1.342-1.977,
children having chronic diseases was statistically significant associated to SAM
