A Logistic Regression Analysis for the Risk Factors Associated with Malnutrition among Children Under 5 Years in Uganda
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Date
2024
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Abstract
This study investigated the risk factors associated with malnutrition among children under 5 years in Uganda between 2006-2016. The study was guided by the following research objectives: i) to identify the demographic factors associated with malnutrition in children under 5 years in Uganda between 2006-2016; ii) to find out the socio-economic factors by fitting it into regression models, associated with malnutrition in children under 5 years in Uganda between 2006-2016; and iii) to establish the feeding practices associated with malnutrition in children under 5 years in Uganda between 2006-2016. The study adopted cross-sectional studies based on data from the Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys (UDHS) from 2006, 2011, and 2016. The study population was 10,152 participants. The study used multistage sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using binary and multivariate logistic regression. The demographic factors associated with malnutrition in children under five in UDHS 2016, 2011, and 2006 included, age, sex, birth interval, size at birth, and residence. In addition, the study found that breastfeeding practices associated with malnutrition in children under five in UDHS 2016, 2011, and 2006 is ‘not breastfeeding’. The study concluded that the factors associated with malnutrition are: age, sex, birth interval, size at birth, residence, mother’s nutritional status, mother’s education, wealth quintile, and not exclusively breastfeeding a child. The study recommended among others that interventions should be focused on child health promotion and prevention, improvement of household wealth index and food security, including mother’s awareness regarding health nutritional care of children <5 years in Uganda. New policies in nutritional intervention, particularly for mothers with low BMI and children who have smaller size at birth should be implemented by the government to improve health and nutritional status of children <5 years in Uganda