Abstract

Malnutrition is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity among under-five children
in sub-Saharan Africa. Western Uganda has persistently registered highest levels of child
malnutrition despite being referred to as” food basket’’ of the country. The major objective
of the study was to determine the prevalence of under nutrition among children under-five
years attending KIUTH Bushenyi district western Uganda. The study was a cross sectional
descriptive study that used quantitative and qualitative methods. The study was carried out
at pediatric ward and pediatric outpatient department of KIUTH. The study was carried out
on children under-five years (3 to 59 months). Nutrition level was determined using
anthropometric measurements using the US national center for health statistics (NCHS)
reference standards, which was approved for use in developing countries by the WHO. Height
for age, weight for age and weight for length were used. Data was collected using
questionnaires in which questions were asked to the care takers and also measurements of
weight, length or height were interpreted using z-score. Those children who were below -2
SD were considered to be undernourished. Data was analyzed using Microsoft excel. In the
study, stunting, wasting and underweight were 47%, 25% and 27% respectively. Almost half
(47%) of children in the study were stunted which was comparable to the national prevalence
of 47.8% for western Uganda which is unacceptably high. This may be because the majority
of the participants had underlying diseases and diseases are known to cause under nutrition
in children due to lack of appetite and diarrhea. In the study, the prevalence of under
nutrition among children under- five years attending KIU TH were 47% stunted, 25% wasted
and 27% underweight. The major determinants to under nutrition among children under five
years attending KIU TH Bushenyi district were; age (1-3 years), birth interval of 1 to 2 years,
breast feeding for less than 6 months, maternal age of less than 20 years, maternal education
level (mothers who did not go to school and those who ended in primary school) and maternal
occupation (peasant and business).