Abstract

Malnutrition, is a deficiency, excess or imbalance in a person’s intake of energy and/or
nutrients to ensure growth and maintain specific functions. It covers both over (Obesity) and
undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiency). Child
malnutrition was an important indicator for monitoring progress towards the achievement
of Millennium development goals. A descriptive cross-sectional study was used for children
in Kashenyi Parish and a total of 100 children were considered during the study. In this study,
the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged two years and below in Kashenyi Parish-
Bushenyi District was 20%. Age of a child, gender, birth order, mother’s age, mother’s
occupation, parents’ religion mother’s education level, mother’s marital status,
breastfeeding, infections, and immunization were found to be statistically significantly
associated with malnutrition in children under the age of two. The researchers recommended
that there is a need for feeding education to mothers which would help to improve nutrition
habits among needy infants mainly to control malnutrition. This should be done under good
monitoring and evaluation.