Prevalence of Moderate Acute Malnutrition and Associate Factors among Under-five Children in Some Selected Areas of Satkhira District, Bangladesh

Abstract

The prevalence of malnutrition in Bangladesh is among the highest in the world. Millions of children are suffering in malnutrition therefore; the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associate with moderate acute malnutrition in under-five children. A descriptive type of cross-sectional study was carried out in some selected areas of Satkhira district in Bangladesh with a sample size of 220. Data were collected from 220 households to obtain information on household demographics, food availability, and child-feeding practices using a pre tested structured questionnaires. Growth measurement were analyzed in z-scores and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) 2005 reference population to determine the nutritional status of children. The anthropometric information and nutritional status of the children revealed that, 49.1% of the children were moderately malnourished on weight for age (Underweight) Z-score, 22.7% height for age (stunting) Z-score, 39% on weight for height (Wasting) Z-score and more than 95% children were moderately malnourished according to mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) classification. There was a significant association found between moderate acute malnutrition of children with number of family member (p value= 0.018), sources of family income (p value= 0.007), monthly family income (p value= 0.000) and monthly family expenditure on food (p value= 0.000). The prevalence rate of malnutrition of under-five children in this study area was found high and it’s associate with many independent variables like low family income, low expenditure, poor nutritional knowledge and lack of access to get nutritional knowledge. Keyword: Nutritional status, nutritional knowledge, Underweight, stunting, wasting. Cite this Article Md. Abdus Sabur Miah, Sarder Mahmud Hossain, Md. Jahangir Alam. Prevalence of Moderate Acute Malnutrition and Associate Factors among Under-five Children in Some Selected Areas of Satkhira District, Bangladesh. Research & Reviews: Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2019; 8(2): 33–41p.