Factors Influencing Malnutrition among Under Five Children at Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Zambia

Abstract

The nutritional status of under-five children in the country is one of the indicators of the countries health status as well as its economic status. Malnutrition is capable of affecting the physical growth, mortality, morbidity, cognitive development, reproduction, and physical work capacity. It is one of the underlying factors in many diseases affecting children today. This study aimed at identifying and determining the factors influencing malnutrition among the under five children admitted at Kitwe Teaching Hospital. An unmatched case control study was conducted.  A total of 236 children were recruited in this study with 79 being malnourished and the rest not malnourished. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires. Following placement of the data in regression models, the factors that were found to be significantly associated with child malnutrition were child’s birth weight (Adjusted OR= 30.83, 95% CI 3.43-277.43), the number of meals per day (Adjusted OR= 379.54, 95% CI 32.50-4433.25) and the mother’s knowledge of the causes and prevention of malnutrition (Adjusted OR= 549.61, 95% CI 47.27-6490.71). The findings of this study showed that malnutrition in children that are admitted at Kitwe Teaching Hospital was dependent on a number of factors. Some of these factors were birth weight of the child, number of meals given to a child in a day and the parent’s knowledge about malnutrition. Therefore, intensifying health education and antenatal care could contribute in the reduction of malnutrition cases in under-five children.