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Severity of Malnutrition and Treatment Responses in under Five Children in Bahir Dar Felegehiwot Referal Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Received: 14 May 2014     Accepted: 3 June 2014     Published: 10 June 2014
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Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five in developing countries. Ethiopia being one of these countries, malnutrition is an important public health problem. However, little information is available on the severity of malnutrition and treatment responses in under five children especially in hospital settings. Objective: To determine the severity of malnutrition and treatment responses of severe acute malnutrition in children under the age of five and to identify its associated factors. Methodology: ensus method was used and a retrospective data of about 1639 under five children admitted to Felegehiwot Referral Hospital (pediatrics department) form November 2012 –November 2013 were studied for severe acute malnutrition and its treatment responses. Results: In the study period, a total of 1639 children less than 5 years of age were admitted to FHRH pediatric department, and out of that 145 were under five years old with a diagnosis of malnutrition malnourished characteristics. Hence, the proportion of under five aged children affected with malnutrition from this one-year retrospective data in FHRH was about 8.8%. From the total of 145 malnourished children, about 93(64.1%) were detected for wasting/acute malnutrition and about 36 (24.8%) were affected with severe wasting or severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Among the malnourished children, about 133(91.7 %) were detected for stunting (chronic malnutrition) and about 65(44.8%) were affected with severe stunting. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the proportion of malnutrition in under five children is high especially during 1-2 years old group. Among the malnourished children detected (145), the level of stunting/chronic malnutrition was higher than wasting/acute malnutrition (91.7% vs64.1%, respectively). The level of severe chronic stunting investigated was also found higher than the level of SAM (44.8% vs 24.8%, respectively). Better responses of treatment and condition at discharge were observed by using different therapeutic combinations after admission. To reduce childhood malnutrition especially in under five children, due emphasis should be given in improving the knowledge and practice of parents on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and treatment service practices from nearby health facilities.

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18
Page(s) 93-98
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Malnutrition, Under five Children, Retrospective study, Treatment Response and Condition at Discharge, Felegehiwot Referral Hospital

References
[1] World Health Organization (2000). Report on malnutrition worldwide,WHO, Gene-va.
[2] Stuart, G. and Rafael, F. (2001): Assessing the food and nutrition situation in rural Guatemala.
[3] United Nations Save the Children/UNICEF(1999). Plan of operation in coop-eration with Ethiopian government 1994-1999.
[4] Administrative committee on coordina-tion/sub-committee on nutrition(2000). 4th Report on World nutrition situation, ACC/SCN,UN.
[5] Zewditu, G. (2001). Review of the status of malnutrition and trends in Ethiopia. Ethiop. J Health Dev., 15(2): 55-74.
[6] Gugsa, Y. (2000). Malnutrition among child-ren in southern Ethiopia: levels and risk factors. Ethiop. J Health Dev.,14( 3): 283-292.
[7] Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples/SNNP(2003). House hold health survey, Awassa, Ethiopia.
[8] Central Statistical Authority (1993). Report on the National Ru-ral Nutrition Survey. Core Module, National Nutritional Surveillance System, Bulletin No 113. Addis Ababa, CSA, Ethiopia. 1993.
[9] Haidar, J., Demissie, T. (1999). Nutrition Situation in Ethi-opia.The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(2):181-183.
[10] National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization(1995). Technical Report,NCHS/WHO, Gene-va.
[11] Timotewos, G. (1999). The association of children’s nutritional status to maternal education in Zigbaboto, Guragie zone, Ethiopia.Ethiop. J. Health Dev.,13 (1) 1: 55-61
[12] Africa Bureau results package (1998): Nutrition, Draft paper.
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    Lijalem Mekonnen, Ahmed Abdusemed, Mulate Abie, Asmare Amuamuta. (2014). Severity of Malnutrition and Treatment Responses in under Five Children in Bahir Dar Felegehiwot Referal Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2(3), 93-98. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18

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    ACS Style

    Lijalem Mekonnen; Ahmed Abdusemed; Mulate Abie; Asmare Amuamuta. Severity of Malnutrition and Treatment Responses in under Five Children in Bahir Dar Felegehiwot Referal Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2014, 2(3), 93-98. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18

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    AMA Style

    Lijalem Mekonnen, Ahmed Abdusemed, Mulate Abie, Asmare Amuamuta. Severity of Malnutrition and Treatment Responses in under Five Children in Bahir Dar Felegehiwot Referal Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. J Food Nutr Sci. 2014;2(3):93-98. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18,
      author = {Lijalem Mekonnen and Ahmed Abdusemed and Mulate Abie and Asmare Amuamuta},
      title = {Severity of Malnutrition and Treatment Responses in under Five Children in Bahir Dar Felegehiwot Referal Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia},
      journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {93-98},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20140203.18},
      abstract = {Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five in developing countries. Ethiopia being one of these countries, malnutrition is an important public health problem. However, little information is available on the severity of malnutrition and treatment responses in under five children especially in hospital settings. Objective: To determine the severity of malnutrition and treatment responses of severe acute malnutrition in children under the age of five and to identify its associated factors. Methodology: ensus method was used and a retrospective data of about 1639 under five children admitted to Felegehiwot Referral Hospital (pediatrics department) form November 2012 –November 2013 were studied for severe acute malnutrition and its treatment responses. Results: In the study period, a total of 1639 children less than 5 years of age were admitted to FHRH pediatric department, and out of that 145 were under five years old with a diagnosis of malnutrition malnourished characteristics. Hence, the proportion of under five aged children affected with malnutrition from this one-year retrospective data in FHRH was about 8.8%. From the total of 145 malnourished children, about 93(64.1%) were detected for wasting/acute malnutrition and about 36 (24.8%) were affected with severe wasting or severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Among the malnourished children, about 133(91.7 %) were detected for stunting (chronic malnutrition) and about 65(44.8%) were affected with severe stunting. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the proportion of malnutrition in under five children is high especially during 1-2 years old group. Among the malnourished children detected (145), the level of stunting/chronic malnutrition was higher than wasting/acute malnutrition (91.7% vs64.1%, respectively). The level of severe chronic stunting investigated was also found higher than the level of SAM (44.8% vs 24.8%, respectively). Better responses of treatment and condition at discharge were observed by using different therapeutic combinations after admission. To reduce childhood malnutrition especially in under five children, due emphasis should be given in improving the knowledge and practice of parents on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and treatment service practices from nearby health facilities.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Severity of Malnutrition and Treatment Responses in under Five Children in Bahir Dar Felegehiwot Referal Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia
    AU  - Lijalem Mekonnen
    AU  - Ahmed Abdusemed
    AU  - Mulate Abie
    AU  - Asmare Amuamuta
    Y1  - 2014/06/10
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18
    T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    SP  - 93
    EP  - 98
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7293
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140203.18
    AB  - Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five in developing countries. Ethiopia being one of these countries, malnutrition is an important public health problem. However, little information is available on the severity of malnutrition and treatment responses in under five children especially in hospital settings. Objective: To determine the severity of malnutrition and treatment responses of severe acute malnutrition in children under the age of five and to identify its associated factors. Methodology: ensus method was used and a retrospective data of about 1639 under five children admitted to Felegehiwot Referral Hospital (pediatrics department) form November 2012 –November 2013 were studied for severe acute malnutrition and its treatment responses. Results: In the study period, a total of 1639 children less than 5 years of age were admitted to FHRH pediatric department, and out of that 145 were under five years old with a diagnosis of malnutrition malnourished characteristics. Hence, the proportion of under five aged children affected with malnutrition from this one-year retrospective data in FHRH was about 8.8%. From the total of 145 malnourished children, about 93(64.1%) were detected for wasting/acute malnutrition and about 36 (24.8%) were affected with severe wasting or severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Among the malnourished children, about 133(91.7 %) were detected for stunting (chronic malnutrition) and about 65(44.8%) were affected with severe stunting. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the proportion of malnutrition in under five children is high especially during 1-2 years old group. Among the malnourished children detected (145), the level of stunting/chronic malnutrition was higher than wasting/acute malnutrition (91.7% vs64.1%, respectively). The level of severe chronic stunting investigated was also found higher than the level of SAM (44.8% vs 24.8%, respectively). Better responses of treatment and condition at discharge were observed by using different therapeutic combinations after admission. To reduce childhood malnutrition especially in under five children, due emphasis should be given in improving the knowledge and practice of parents on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and treatment service practices from nearby health facilities.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Bahir Dar University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

  • Bahir Dar University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

  • Bahir Dar University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

  • Bahir Dar University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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