Abstract

Malnutrition remains a pressing global health concern, particularly in developing nations like
those in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, alarming statistics reveal that 38% of children suffer
from stunting, 6% from wasting, and 16% from being underweight. Notably, the northern
region sees 40% affected, while the southwestern region grapples with a staggering 50% of
malnourished children. This study centered on unraveling the influencers of malnutrition
among children under two years old in Kashenyi, Bushenyi District. Employing a communitybased
cross-sectional design, the research adopted a quantitative approach for data
collection and analysis. The study focused on 100 children from over 250 households within
Kashenyi parish. Analysis, conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS,
Version 20.0), revealed a 20% prevalence of malnutrition among children in Kashenyi Parish,
Bushenyi District. The study identified several statistically significant factors associated with
malnutrition in these children, including the child's age, gender, birth order, mother’s age,
occupation, education level, marital status, as well as aspects such as breastfeeding,
infections, and immunization. Recommendations arising from this research emphasize the
critical need for educational interventions targeting mothers. These programs could
significantly enhance nutritional practices for vulnerable infants, effectively mitigating the
impact of malnutrition. Such initiatives, however, must be accompanied by robust
monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure their efficacy and impact.
Keywords: Malnutrition, Underweight, Breastfeeding, Children, Immunization.