Determinants of Acute Malnutrition among Children 6-59 Months of Age Visiting Public Health Facilities in Dawe Kachen District, East Bale Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia: A Case Control Study.

Abstract

Background: Acute malnutrition in children is a life-threatening condition caused by a lack of nutrients and/or illness. Even though, a huge number of acute malnutrition is reported in the pastoral community, there are only few studies have done on determinants of acute malnutrition especially during drought season. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify determinants of acute malnutrition among children 6–59 months of age visiting public health facilities in Dawe kachen district, East Bale zone. Methods: Institutional based un-matched case-control study design was conducted from May to June 2022. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 294 (98 cases and 196 controls) children 6-59 months of age. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric data was analyzed using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro version 3.2.2 tool. The bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was performed to identify factors independently associated with acute malnutrition. The variance inflation factor (VIF) was used to assess multicollinearity among predictor variables. Hosmer and Lemeshow test was used to check for model fitness. Finally, an adjusted odds ratio at a P-value < 0.05 were considered to declare the independent predictors of acute malnutrition. Results: In this study, 294 children (98 cases and 196controls) with mother/caregiver were recruited, and the response rate was 100%. Family size > 6(AOR= 3.117; 95% CI: 1.415 – 6.863), child age (6-11 months) (AOR= 4.945; 95% CI: 1.754 – 13.943), low dietary diversity score (AOR= 2.765; 95% CI: 1.479 – 5.168), children whose mother/caregivers have not received infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counseling (AOR= 7.911; 95% CI: 3.680 – 17.003), children who were initiated complementary feeding before or after six months of age (AOR= 1.966; 95% CI: 1.029- 3.758), children who were late initiated breastfeeding after birth (AOR= 2.881; 95% CI: 1.510- 5.499), children from household with poor wealth status and medium wealth status (AOR= 2.273; 95% CI: 1.064- 4.857), (AOR= 4.057; 95% CI: 1.808- 9.105) respectively, and children who had diarrhea two weeks prior to the survey (AOR= 2.519; 95% CI: 1.326- 4.783) were found to be the independent predictors of acute malnutrition. Conclusion: In the present study family size > 6, Low dietary diversity score, child age (6-11months), lack of IYCF counseling, late initiation of breastfeeding after birth, starting complementary feeding before and after 6 months, household wealth status, and diarrheal disease were identified as the determinants of acute malnutrition in study area.