Prevalence and comorbidities for acute malnutrition among under-fives admitted in the peadiatric ward at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital
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Date
2019-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Introduction: Acute malnutrition is still a major global child health and public health problem especially in low- and middle- income countries of Africa where it causes significant morbidity and mortality among the vulnerable children aged five years and below. Like its African counterparts, Uganda still grapples with acute malnutrition among its under-fives with regional prevalence variations.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed that made use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches involving 81 study participants. Data on the matter in Fort-Portal, and greater Kabarole, is scanty and thus a study was conducted assessing the prevalence and comorbidities for acute malnutrition among under-fives attending FPRRH.
Results: The prevalence of acute malnutrition among under-fives at FPRRH was high at 14.17%, with diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria being the top three comorbidities others being cerebral palsy, anaemia and URTIs.
Conclusion: Acute malnutrition among under-fives admitted at FPRRH was high with presence of comorbid infections found to be of statistical significance as acute malnutrition predictors
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Acute malnutrition, Paediatrics, Children, Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital