Abstract

Undernutrition can severely impact a child's health and development, leading to growth problems, increased
susceptibility to diseases, and even death. In developing countries, it is estimated that 60% of child deaths under
the age of 5 are linked to malnutrition. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to undernutrition in
children under 5 years of age in Buramba village, Ishaka division, Bushenyi district. The research followed a
descriptive cross-sectional design, employing quantitative methods for data collection. A total of 381 participants,
including mothers and children under five years old, were involved in the study. Statistical analysis was conducted
using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. The findings revealed that a significant
number of children in Buramba village suffered from undernutrition, with 10.76% being underweight, 4.99%
wasted, and 19.16% stunted. Several factors were associated with an increased risk of undernutrition among these
children, including the mother's parity, marital status, place of delivery, and lack of antenatal care (ANC) visits.
Additionally, undernutrition was more prevalent among children of mothers with limited education, those from
various occupational backgrounds, those with mothers practicing traditional worship or Islam, and those with
lower family incomes. The study highlights the urgent need for nutritional education programs targeted at
mothers to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable infants and combat malnutrition. These programs should
be implemented with rigorous monitoring and evaluation to ensure their effectiveness in addressing this critical
issue.