title: The prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among infants with cleft palate and/or lip at a hospital in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among infants with Cleft palate and/or cleft lip (CP+/-L) at Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Uganda Hospital (CoRSU) in Uganda.
  
  
  
  This was a cross-sectional study done on infants with CP+/-L and their caretakers admitted between November 2013 and October 2014 at CoRSU hospital which was the study setting. A questionnaire was answered by the infants' caretakers. The main outcome measure, malnutrition was defined and classified based on Z-scores obtained using the W.H.O Z-calculator in which weights of the infants in kilograms and lengths in centimeters respectively were placed. The values obtained were expressed as a proportion using all enrolled infants with CP+/-L as denominator. Multivariable analysis was used to determine the risk factors.
  
  
  
  A total of 44 infants with CP+/-L were enrolled. Of these, 77% were below 4 months of age and 97.7% were immunized. The male-to-female ratio was 1.06:1. About 59% had unilateral CP+/-L. A total of 93.2% were delivered at term with 69.4% having a birth weight greater than 3 kg. Generally, 68% were malnourished, with the highest burden among females (71.4%), infants below 4 months (73.5%) and those with unilateral CP+/-L (77%). About 57% had moderate-to-severe malnutrition. There was delayed supplementation to breast milk, with cow-milk as the main supplemental feed for all the infants. In the multivariable analysis, factors associated with malnutrition included, having caretakers lacking nutritional information post-delivery (OR = 3.8, p = 0.17), low birth weight (OR = 3.4, p = 0.20), and having less than 10 feeds/day (OR = 4.9, p = 0.09).
  
  
  
  CP+/-L infants born in Uganda suffer a high-burden of malnutrition. Preventional strategies are needed with focus on proper feeding information. Research on cost-effective feeds, feeding methods and reasons behind gender disparities in these infants is also required.
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T), Mbarara, Uganda. mtungotyo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tungotyo
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T), Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atwine
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T), Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nanjebe
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for Uganda (CoRSU) Hospital, Kisubi, Uganda.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T), Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Situma
mesh_terms: D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014454:Uganda
keywords: Cleft palate; Infant; Malnutrition