PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS

ABSTRACT

Background: Malnutrition is higher in rural communities among children under five years. Nevertheless, statistics on the prevalence and associated factors that contribute to malnutrition in these children are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in the Islands of Kwahu Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed in September 2022. A simple random sampling was used to select 238 children aged 6-59 months in twenty-four communities. The bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used in the statistical analysis. The study measured the strength of association by odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals significant if the p-values were less than 0.05. The crude (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were both reported. Results: Stunting, wasting, underweight and acute malnutrition (using MUAC tape measure) prevalence were 26.9%, 10.9%, 11.8% and 26.9% respectively. The sex of the child was a significant determinant of stunting (χ2 = 8.888, p = 0.003) with the highest odds of stunting being among male children compared to their female counterparts. Of the 238 infants aged 6–59 months; 48.7% consumed minimum dietary diversity (≥ 4 food groups), 70.6% met the minimum meal frequency and 41.6% had received a minimum acceptable diet. Compared to children who received colostrum after birth, children who were denied colostrum feeding were more prone to stunting [AOR = 4.36; 95% CI (1.41 ‒ 13.48); p = 0.011] and wasting [AOR = 4.81; 95% CI (1.42 ‒16.29); p = 0.012 Children who were born in health facilities were 1.22 more likely to be acutely malnourished [AOR = 1.22; 95% CI (0.23 ‒ 6.32); p = 0.814] compared to children who were born at home.