Abstract

Undernutrition remains a significant contributor to child mortality globally, accounting for
over 50% of annual deaths among children under five. This study aimed to assess the
prevalence, clinical patterns, and determinants of undernutrition in children under five
years old attending Rugazi Health Centre IV in Ryeru Sub-County, Bunyaruguru County,
Rubirizi District, Southwestern Uganda. Employing a cross-sectional descriptive design,
data was gathered from 361 out of 374 children in this demographic. The findings revealed
alarming statistics, with 56.2% of the studied children classified as undernourished.
Clinically, 27.1% were found to be wasted, indicating acute malnutrition, while 72.9%
maintained normal weight for their length. The study noted that 16.6% fell within the
moderately wasted category and 6.1% were severely wasted. Additionally, 19.1% were
moderately stunted, while 8.0% were severely stunted. Factors contributing to
undernutrition included maternal age, education, employment status, breastfeeding
practices, and issues such as single parenthood, separation/divorce, or living with stepparents.
Notably, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months appeared as a protective
factor against wasting. This research underscores the prevalence of undernutrition among
children under five in this region, highlighting the need for targeted interventions
addressing socio-economic and maternal factors while promoting optimal breastfeeding
practices to mitigate this pressing health challenge.
Keywords: prevalence, clinical patterns, under nutrition