Prevalence of malnutrition in children below five years at Ishaka Adventist Hospital
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Date
2017-07
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Allied Health Sciences
Abstract
Malnutrition is a broad term commonly used as an alternative to under nutrition but technically it also refers to over nutrition (UNICEF, 2012). People are malnourished if their diet does not provide adequate calories and protein for growth and maintenance or they are unable to fully utilize the food they eat due to illness (under nutrition). They are also malnourished if they consume too many calories (over nutrition).
A descriptive cross sectional study was used for children under five years who were attending Ishaka Adventist Hospital.
A random sampling method was used among 150 children under five attending Ishaka Adventist Hospital
Results
Out of 150 children that were enrolled in the study, it was found that a total of 6(4%) were severely wasted ie MUAC <12.5cm, 13(8.7%) of them were moderately wasted ie MUAC between 12 and 13.5cm, 131(87.3%) of them were found to be normal ie with MUAC > 13.5cm.
From the study out of 150 children that were enrolled in the study, it was found that a total of 6(4%) were severely wasted, 13(8.7%) of them were moderately wasted, 131(87.3%) of them were found to be normal.
Conclusions.
On prevalence, the study concludes that Bushenyi in which Ishaka Adventist Hospital is located has a high malnutrition level given that from the study 12.7% and 14.7% were wasted and stunted respectively as compared to UBOS findings that indicate 6% and 1l% to be wasted and stunted respectively in Uganda.
The study also concludes that the children age of 1 to 2 years are the most affected by malnutrition followed by those between two to five years accessed on basis of wasting and stunted growth.
5.3 Recommendations
Mothers should be encouraged to breast feed their babies exclusively up to 6 months and breast feeding should go on up to at least 18 months.
Description
A research report submitted to the School of Allied Health Sciences in partial fulfillment for the award of a Diploma In Clinical Medicine And Community Health at Kampala International University Western Campus
Keywords
Malnutrition in children, Ishaka Adventist Hospital, Children