Prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among children under five years in Rwamagana district

Abstract

Malnutrition is a pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrients. According to World Health Organization, globally child malnutrition is health issue with different major public consequences especially for children survival, damaging the mental and physical development of children as well as the economic productivity of individual and even of societies. Malnutrition covers 50% of all child deaths and 11% of the total global disability. Rwanda is one of the countries in the world with a high prevalence of malnutrition children under five years (~38%) and 36.7% in Rwamagana District. As the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2014-15 reported, the prevalence of malnutrition remains high, and there is still a need for more intensive interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors with malnutrition among under five years children in Rwamagana District. Methods: An analytical cross sectional study was used to assess the nutritional status of the children under five years of age in Rwamagana District. Results: This study reveals that the prevalence of malnutrition in Rwamagana District is 37.8%. Statistical significant risk factors associated with malnutrition among children under five were found namely child’s age, maternal occupation, economic status of households, low birth weight, small number of daily meals taken, child illness, place of delivery, vaccination and source of drinking water, all above mentioned risk factors their p-value were less than 0.05. Conclusion: Much effort from the Government of Rwanda and stakeholders should be focused on malnutrition reduction among children under five years.