Nutrition status of children in Kasese district at the Uganda-Congo border.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the magnitude and risk factors for malnutrition in Kasese district at the Uganda-Congo border.


METHODS
Cross sectional nutrition survey.


METHODS
Thirty clusters were selected. The height, weight, and mid upper arm circumference of at least 31 children per cluster were measured. Data on food frequency, prevalence of cough, fever and diarrhoea was also collected.


RESULTS
Half of the 932 children (49.8%) were stunted, and 21.9% were severely stunted. While 17.4% of the children were under weight, 1.29% were wasted and 3.7% had MUAC <12.5 cm. Risk factors for stunting included not consuming milk, fathers' low formal education, having no immunisation card, and not breast feeding among 12-23 months old. Risk factors for underweight included fathers' and mothers' low education level, consumption of legumes, and fever or diarrhoea two weeks before the survey. For wasting the risk factors were consumption of vegetables, legumes or starchy foods. Those not consuming high-energy or animal foods including milk were likely to be severely wasted as were those not breast feeding in the 12-23 months age group. Fever or a diarrhoea episode two weeks preceding the survey and living in a female-headed household, were also risk factors for severe wasting.


CONCLUSIONS
Attention to education, poverty alleviation, appropriate feeding practices, prevention and treatment of infections might assist in combating malnutrition in this district.
Tumwine
J K
JK
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University Medical School, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Barugahare
W
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology