Abstract:
Introduction: In Rwanda malnutrition is responsible of 21.9 % of child mortality and an
estimated loss of 11.5% of the national GDP. In Kayonza 9.2% of all under-five children are
underweight and 4.9% of inpatient mortality at the DH in 2016 was due to child malnutrition.
Identifying risk factors for malnutrition will orient specific interventions to reduce morbidity and
mortality in children.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the risk factors contributing to child undernutrition
in South Kayonza, Rwanda.
Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive design was used. The sample included 346 children,
aged 0-59 months with weight for age Z-score of -2 or less ,who were currently enrolled in
nutrition rehabilitation programs at the 3 levels (community level, health centers or district
hospital) in the southern part of Kayonza District, Rwanda. Descriptive analysis was done using
frequencies and percentages, and inferential statistics using Chi-square test was used to
determine relationship between causal and outcome variables.
Results:
The findings indicated a positive correlation between family size and number of children’s meals
(p-value 0.035); a positive correlation between category of ubudehe and number of child’s meals
per day (p-value of 0.000) and positive correlation between ubudehe category with frequency of
consumption of balanced diet (p-value of 0.000) . Also, there was positive correlation between
maternal education and children’s frequency of consumption of fruits & vegetables (p-value of
0.000).
Conclusion & recommendations: Higher family size was associated with fewer meals; low
ubudehe category was associated with fewer meals and fewer consumption of balanced diet,
while low maternal education was associated with both low number of meals, low frequency of
consumption of balanced diet and low frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables. Socioeconomic
interventions in place should be strengthened and health education on child nutrition
should be regularly provided to all mothers in ECDs and women in ANC services.
