Factors affecting malnutrition in children and the uptake of interventions to prevent the condition
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Date
2015-12
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BMC Pediatrics
Abstract
Background: Malnutrition is a major cause of child morbidity and mortality. There are several interventions to
prevent the condition but it is unclear how well they are taken up by both malnourished and well nourished
children and their mothers and the extent to which this is influenced by socio-economic factors. We examined
socio-economic factors, health outcomes and the uptake of interventions to prevent malnutrition by mothers of
malnourished and well-nourished in under-fives attending Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital (PML).
Methods: An unmatched case control study of malnourished and well-nourished children and their mothers was
conducted at PML, the largest facility for managing malnutrition in Ghanaian children. Malnourished children with
moderate and severe acute malnutrition were recruited and compared with a group of well-nourished children
attending the hospital. Weight-for-height was used to classify nutritional status. Record forms and a semi-structured
questionnaire were used for data collection, which was analysed with Stata 11.0 software.
Results: In all, 182 malnourished and 189 well-nourished children and their mothers/carers participated in the
study. Children aged 6–12 months old formed more than half of the malnourished children. The socio-demographic
factors associated with malnutrition in the multivariate analysis were age ≤24 months and a monthly family income of
≤200 GH Cedis. Whereas among the health outcomes, low birth weight, an episode of diarrhoea and the presence of
developmental delay were associated with malnutrition. Among the interventions, inadequate antenatal visits, faltering
growth and not de-worming one's child were associated with malnutrition in the multivariate analysis. Immunisation
and Vitamin A supplementation were not associated with malnutrition. Missed opportunities for intervention
were encountered.
Conclusion: Poverty remains an important underlying cause of malnutrition in children attending Princess
MarieLouiseChildren’s Hospital. Specific and targeted interventions are needed to address this and must
include efforts to prevent low birthweight and diarrhoea, and reduce health inequalities. Regular antenatal
clinic attendance, de-worming of children and growth monitoring should also be encouraged. However,
further studies are needed on the timing and use of information on growth faltering to prevent severe forms
of malnutrition.
(PDF) Factors affecting malnutrition in children and the uptake of interventions to prevent the condition. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284209332_Factors_affecting_malnutrition_in_children_and_the_uptake_of_interventions_to_prevent_the_condition [accessed Sep 06 2018].
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Keywords
Malnutrition, Children, Prevention, Diarrhoea, Risk factors, Interventions