DETERMINANTS OF ACUTE MALNUTRITION AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN KARAT TOWN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILTIES, KONSO DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Acute malnutrition is usually the result of a combination of inadequate dietary intake and infection. It is a third most risk factor for death of under-five years of age children in the world. Acute malnutrition among children under-five years of age is a long last problem in most areas of Ethiopia including the study area, Konso. Despite, this study was aimed to identify determinants of acute malnutrition in Karat town of Konso district which is consistent (regular) in the study area. Objective: To identify determinants of acute malnutrition among under-five children in Karat district hospital and Karat health center, Southern Ethiopia 2015/16. Methods: Institutional based case control study was conducted at Karat district general Hospital and Karat Health Center among under-five children who were malnourished and well nourished babies visit in the public health facilities during the study period. Data were collected from March 28 to May 13, 2016 using structured interview for mothers, and anthropometric measurement of children. A sample of 343 with 114 cases and 229 controls with case to control ratio of 1:2, respectively, were taken at the public health facilities. A binary logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors of acute malnutrition. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that acute malnutrition was associated with: mothers those who had no formal education AOR, 4.70(1.23, 10.20) and primary education AOR, 3.01(1.18, 6.74) times more likely their child to develop AMN compared to 2 0 and above; children of mothers who were (single, widowed or divorced), AOR 3.33(1.52, 14.66) times more likely their child to developed AMN than married, family size of five and above, AOR 2.28(1.04, 8.22) times more likely to developed AMN compared to less than three, joint decision on household consumption, AOR 0.26(0.07,0.96) times less likely to developed AMN compared to wife decision alone, water source for drinking from river, AOR 5.61(2.04,27.03) and from spring AOR 2.63(1.01,12.22) times more likely to developed AMN than pipeline, duration of child breast feeding below 12 months, AOR 3.02(1.57,23.04) times more likely to developed AMN compared to 24 and above, dietary diversity of less than or equal to three food groups, AOR 5.13(1.56,16.84) times more likely to developed AMN than consumed more than four food groups and children who had diarrhea illness for the last two weeks prior to data collection, were AOR 8.41(4.03,27.26) times more likely to develop AMN compared to their counterpart. Conclusion and recommendation: The finding of this study revealed that maternal education, marital status, family size, drinking water source, and separate decision on money, duration of breast feeding, dietary diversity and diarrhea were determinants of acute malnutrition. To reduce childhood acute malnutrition, due emphasis should be given in empowering women and improving the knowledge and practice of parents on appropriate infant and young child caring practices.