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Malnutrition, morbidity and infection in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya: an epidemiological study.
De Vita, Maria Vittoria; Scolfaro, Carlo; Santini, Bruna; Lezo, Antonella; Gobbi, Federico; Buonfrate, Dora; Kimani-Murage, Elizabeth W; Macharia, Teresiah; Wanjohi, Milka; Rovarini, Jacopo Mattia; Morino, Gianfranco.
Affiliation
  • De Vita MV; Amici del Mondo - World Friends Onlus / Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital, P.O. Box 39433-00623, Nairobi, Kenya. mariavittoria.devita@gmail.com.
  • Scolfaro C; Department of Pediatrics - Infectious Diseases Unit - Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. mariavittoria.devita@gmail.com.
  • Santini B; World Friends (Kenya) @ Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital, Off Thika Rd, opp. Safari Park Hotel, P.O. Box 29433-00623, Nairobi, Kenya. mariavittoria.devita@gmail.com.
  • Lezo A; Department of Pediatrics - Infectious Diseases Unit - Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
  • Gobbi F; Division of Nutrition, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
  • Buonfrate D; Division of Nutrition, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
  • Kimani-Murage EW; Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS-Ospedale Sacro Cuore don Calabria, Negrar, 37024, Verona, Italy.
  • Macharia T; Centre for Tropical Diseases, IRCCS-Ospedale Sacro Cuore don Calabria, Negrar, 37024, Verona, Italy.
  • Wanjohi M; African Population and Health Research Centre, APHRC Campus, P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Rovarini JM; African Population and Health Research Centre, APHRC Campus, P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Morino G; African Population and Health Research Centre, APHRC Campus, P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Ital J Pediatr ; 45(1): 12, 2019 Jan 14.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30642368
BACKGROUND: Malnutrition constitutes one of the major public health challenges throughout the developing world. Urban poverty and malnutrition have been on the rise, with an increased rate of morbidity. We herein explore the relationship between infections and nutritional status and the related association with hygienic conditions as risk of infection in children residing in the slums of Nairobi. METHODS: Case-control study based on a secondary analysis of quantitative data collected from a cluster randomized trial carried out in two slums of Nairobi. The following information about resident children were selected: babies' anthropometric measurements, related life conditions, data on infant-feeding practices, food security, hygiene, immunization coverage and morbidity were collected and updated with structured questionnaires until 12 months of life. Prevalence of malnutrition was calculated, then both bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to explore the relationship between malnutrition and its determinants. RESULTS: The study involved a total of 1119 babies registered at birth (51.28% male and 48.03% female infants). Overall the prevalence of malnutrition was high, with 26.3% of the children being stunted, 6.3% wasted and 13.16% underweight. Prevalence of wasting was higher in the first months of life, while in older children more case of stunting and underweight were captured. Wasted infants were significantly associated with common childhood illnesses: with cough and rapid breathing as well as with diarrhea (p-value< 0.05). Stunting was associated with hygienic conditions (p-value< 0.05 in households that did not perform any water treatment and for children that had a toilet within the house compound), immunization program and low-birth-weight. Moreover, regression analysis showed that significant determinants of stunting were sex and feeding practices. Underweight was significantly associated with socio-demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: In the specific environment where the study was conducted acute malnutrition is correlated with acute infections, while chronic malnutrition is more influenced by WASH conditions. Therefore, our findings suggest that one cannot separate infection and its risk factors as determinants of the whole malnutrition burden.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Poverty Areas / Malnutrition / Infections Type of study: Clinical_trials / Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Aspects: Determinantes_sociais_saude Limits: Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Ital J Pediatr Journal subject: PEDIATRIA Year: 2019 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Kenia Country of publication: Reino Unido

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Poverty Areas / Malnutrition / Infections Type of study: Clinical_trials / Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Aspects: Determinantes_sociais_saude Limits: Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Ital J Pediatr Journal subject: PEDIATRIA Year: 2019 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Kenia Country of publication: Reino Unido