RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Malnutrition remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children in displaced settings. Nutrition at this stage is crucial for the growth and development of the child. It is estimated that 41 million children under 5 years are obese/overweight, 159 million are stunted and 50 million are wasted worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity and dietary diversity among internally displaced persons' children from 6 to 59 months. METHODOLOGY: A cross sectional community-based study was conducted on 395 children aged 6-59 months from May 2021-June 2021. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select the study participants. A validated structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, food security and dietary diversity. Predictors of food insecurity and dietary diversity were identified using logistic regression. The outputs were presented using adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The study results revealed that the level of household food insecurity was 91.6%, at risk of experiencing hunger (3.3%) and food secure (5.5%). Participants had mean dietary diversity score of 3.6 food groups, 51.6% had a low or inadequate dietary diversity and 48.4% had adequate dietary diversity. Children who were from households with monthly income of $101- $200 US dollars and had been displaced just once were 79% (AOR: 0.21, 95%CI: 0.07-0.60) and 84% (AOR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.05-0.50) less likely to be food insecure compared to their counterparts respectively. While households with participants who Walked ≥ 10 min to fetch drinking water (AOR: 11.61 95%CI: 2.39-52.08) were more likely food insecure. In addition, household monthly income of ≥ $100 US dollars (AOR: 0.20, 95%CI: 0.07-0.56) had a reduced chance of providing low diversified food. Households that had received social grants (AOR: 2.15, 95%CI: 1.38-3.49) and walked ≥ 10 min to fetch drinking water (AOR: 2.43, 95%CI: 1.48-3.98) had a higher chance of providing low diversified food. CONCLUSION: Dietary diversity and household food insecurity was unacceptably low and high respectively among internally displaced children. Policymakers should prioritize strengthening both nutrition sensitive and specific activities that contribute to reduction of food insecurity and consumption of unbalance diet.
RESUMO
Background: A major cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children in displaced settings is malnutrition. Approximately, 45% of deaths are linked to undernutrition among children under 5 years of age. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of malnutrition among internally displaced (IDP) children from 6 to 59 months. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study with an analytical approach was conducted from May to June 2021. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select mothers/caregivers and administer a structured questionnaire that consisted of three sections: sociodemographic and environmental characteristics, health-related factors and anthropometric measurements) was used to collect data. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27.0. Bivariate analysis was done at p < 0.20 and logistic regression at a 5% level of significance. Results: Overall, 395 children were enrolled with a mean age of 31.4 ± 9.1 months and 59.0% were males. Findings revealed that 52% of children were malnourished; stunted (22.1%), wasted (4.8%), underweight (6.3%) and overweight (35.4%). Independent predictors of overall malnutrition were the age of the mothers/caregivers (AOR: 8.0, 95% CI: 2.0 - 32.1), children who had not taken all their vaccines (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.4 -3.8), children not dewormed (AOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.3-6.3), Children not exclusively breastfed (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1-9.6). Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition was high among children living in internally displaced households. Thus, there is a need for vaccination and deworming campaigns, and nutritional and educational intervention programmes to improve both forms of malnutrition: undernutrition and over-nutrition.
