Assessment of nutrition status of children aged between 6 – 59 months and associated factors among returnee households in Pader District

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the nutrition status of children aged between 6 – 59 months and associated factors among returnee households in Pader district. Methodology: A cross sectional study design was used. A sample size of 406 children aged 6 – 59 months was used. Data collection was through an administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were taken following recommended procedures. Qualitative data was collected through key informants and focus group discussions. Quantitative data analysis was done through descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis of variables. Results: Study results revealed that the prevalence of wasting (GAM) was 7.6%, stunting was 36.1% and underweight was 19.4%. The increase in malnutrition prevalence is attributed to a high morbidity prevalence of 72.2% and a negative trend in the following proxy household factors where: 88.5% of children aged 6-59 months had inadequate food intake; 68.6% of children aged 6-59 months were not exclusively breastfed; 74.1% of the children fed less than 3 times a day; 76.9% children were fed on left over foods; 97.8% of returnee households did not drink boiled or treated water; 38.1% never washed hands after visiting the latrine/toilet; only 13% of returnee households were food secure and 47.7% of returnee households live on absolute poverty less 1.25$ a day. There was also lack of basic community services where: 85.1% of returnee households (rHH) do not have access to community livelihood support programs; 29.5% of rHH do not have access to protected water sources; 73% of rHH cannot access water within the recommended distance of 5 kilo meters; 77.4% of rHH cannot meet the recommended water usage rate of 15 litres per person per day; no functional health centres within the two sub-counties where the study was undertaken; only 49.4% have access to health centres in the neighboring sub-counties and 42.5% trek more than 10 kilo meters to access a health centre. Conclusion: This study has shown a poor nutrition status of children aged 5 – 59 months among returnee households in Pader district as depicted by the high prevalence of malnutrition which is attributed to: a high morbidity prevalence; a negative trend in proxy household factors and lack of basic community services like limited access to community livelihood support programs, lack of access to safe water and health centres