Undernutrition and associated factors in orphan children aged 6-59 months in Gambella Southwest, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and associated factors in orphaned children under 5 years old.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Gambella City, Ethiopia.

Participants: A sample of 419 under 5 orphaned children included in the study. Eligible households with orphans had selected using a systematic random sampling method. The lottery method was used when more than one eligible study participants live in the household. An OR with 95% CI was performed to measure the strength of association between each dependent variable and independent variables. Variables with p<0.05 were declared statistically significant.

Primary outcome: The main outcome of this study was the prevalence of undernutrition among orphaned under 5 and its associated factors.

Results: Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in orphan children under 5 were 12.2%, 37.8% and 21.7%, respectively. The prevalnce of wasting peaks among age group of 36-47 months (42.5%), whereas underweight peaks in 48-59 months (27.7%). Food insecurity, wealth index, family size, vitamin A supplementation, diarrhoea, fever 2 weeks before the survey, children under 5 and parents' death were associated with undernutrition.

Conclusion: The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among orphan children under 5 was significantly high. Multisectoral collaborative efforts towards access to health services, improving income-generating activities, micronutrient supplementation and social support and protection targeting orphan and vulnerable populations have to be built up.

Keywords: community child health; nutrition & dietetics; nutritional support; public health.