Undernutrition and associated factors in orphan children aged 6–59 months in Gambella Southwest, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study release_ycelhekf3jgf7gnkctjlrfvmde

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title>The study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and associated factors in orphaned children under 5 years old.</jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design</jats:title>A cross-sectional study.</jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Setting</jats:title>Gambella City, Ethiopia.</jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Participants</jats:title>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&lt;0.05 were declared statistically significant.</jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Primary outcome</jats:title>The main outcome of this study was the prevalence of undernutrition among orphaned under 5 and its associated factors.</jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title>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.</jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>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.</jats:sec>
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