Maternal Risk Factors of Acute Malnutrition Among Under Five Years Children in secondary and Tertiary Hospitals in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition in early childhood has far-reaching adverse consequences on child survival, wellbeing, economic productivity and overall personal and national development. Malnutrition damages a child’s physical and cognitive development and it is largely irreversible and perpetuating illness, poverty and inequality. So a current characterization of risk factors is essential for preventive intervention programs. Methods: This case-control study regarding maternal risk factors of acute malnutrition in children was carried out following ethical approval from Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Total 180 children aged 6-59 months (90 WHZ < -2 and 90 comparing children with WHZ ≥ -2) were included for this study according to selection criteria. Informed written consents were taken from the guardians of all participants. Detail history was taken and anthropometric measurements of children and their parents were measured by measuring tape and weight machine. BMI of children and parents, and weight-for-height, weight-for-age, height-for-age, BMI-for-age and MUAC-for-age Z scores of children were calculated. Data were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire and collected data were analyzed by the SPSS 23. Chi-squared (ꭓ2) and unpaired t-test were performed to compare the frequencies and means between the groups. Results: The mean age of the acute malnourished children was 26.07±14.21 months with slight male predominance (male female ratio 1.2:1). The mean weight for height Z score of the cases was -2.82±0.41 and 31.10% acute malnourished cases had severe acute malnutrition. Monthly family income <10000 BDT, younger mother (age ≤20 years), less educated mother (Illiterate or up to primary), undernourished mother (BMI <18.50 kg/m2) and predominant breast feeding stop before 4 months had found to be significantly associated with acute malnourishment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Acute malnutrition was found to be significantly associated with low monthly family income, younger mother and father, less educated mother and father, undernourished mother and early stop of predominant breast feeding.