PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN AGED 0-59 MONTHS IN MUGU DISTRICT NEPAL

Abstract

Under-nutrition is responsible for greater than a third of under-five child deaths in the world. The short and long term effects of under-nutrition include delayed developmental milestones, an increased risk of infections and greater susceptibility to chronic disease as an adult. Prevalence of child under-nutrition in Mugu was the highest among districts in Nepal. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with under-nutrition among children aged 0-59 months in Mugu district. A cross-sectional study was conducted in July-August 2014 involving 246 children aged 0-59 months residing in selected 2 VDCs in Mugu district. Anthropometric measurements were conducted on the children participating in the study along with their mothers. A structured questionnaire was then administered to the mothers. Data analysis was done using Chi Squared test or Fishers Exact test for bivariate analysis and a final multivariable model was created using Logistic Regression with statistical significance of each analysis accepted at a p value < 0.05. The prevalence of severe wasting (6.1%), the overall prevalence of stunting (61.8%) and the overall prevalence of underweight (48.8%) among children in the study was higher than the national statistics as reported by NDHS 2011. A small size at birth, not exclusively breastfed and history of diarrhoea had a positive association with wasting. Low maternal BMI, a birth interval less than 24 months, poor dietary diversity and child age group of 12-35 months had a positive association whereas growth monitoring visits had a negative association with stunting. Low maternal BMI, child age group of 12-35 months, small size at birth and history of diarrhoea had a positive association with underweight. The prevalence of under-nutrition among children in Mugu district is high. The situation regarding factors such as dietary diversity and food security needs to be resolved through infrastructure development and intervention programs. Factors such as birth spacing, growth monitoring visits, high levels of fever and diarrhoea among children can be resolved through adequately staffed health facilities and outreach programs with a special focus on health education and promotion.