Factors associated with severe acute malnutrition among under five years childrens at a selected district hospital,Rwanda.

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