Nutritional status and associated tactors among children aged 6 weeks-23 months attending the young child clinic in Lira Regional Referral Hopital

Abstract

Introduction: Child malnutrition is the component of child morbidity that is most studied yet malnutrition still remains a challenge. Despite the fact that malnutrition measured in terms of population averages has greatly reduced in many parts of the world, the anticipated declines are not the same, with developing countries showing no improvement. Uganda falls in the middle of the spectrum. Lira Regional Referral Hospital has consistently registered under nutrition, with 53% of children under five years being admitted due to malnutrition in the year 2006/2007. Objective: To assess the nutritional status and associated factors, in children aged 6 weeks to 23 months attending the Young Child Clinic in Lira Regional Referral Hospital. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive cross sectional design in which quantitative data was collected. The study population comprised of children between the ages of 6 weeks to 23 months attending the Young Child Clinic in Lira Regional Referral Hospital. Systematic sampling procedure was used to select 145 children. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of children were carried out. Results: The proportion of under nourished children was found to be 11 (7.6%), while majority 134 (92.4%) of the children were normal. Stunting was the most common 7 (4.8%), followed by underweight 6 (4.1 %) and wasting was least 3 (2.1 %).