Determinants of Acute Malnutrition Among 6-59 months Old Children in Public Hospitals in Gambella Town, Southwest Ethiopia: Unmatched Case-control Study

Background: Acute malnutrition is a severe public health issue caused by poor nutrition over a short period of time. It is a powerful predictor of mortality. The Gambella region's risk factors for acute malnutrition, however, are not well understood. Thus, the risk factors for acute malnutrition were identified in this study.

Methods: A facility-based unmatched-case control study design was conducted in public hospitals in Gambella town from February 15 to March 30, 2019. A total of 85 cases and 170 controls were included in the study. According to the average monthly caseload, children between the ages of 6 and 59 months were distributed among the public hospitals. Then, cases and controls were chosen using a systematic random sampling technique. A standardized, previously tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. EPI-data version 3.1 was used to enter the data, which was subsequently exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05 for the bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions that were employed.

Results: Household income of <=1,500 birr [AOR = 2.46 at 95% CI (1.37-4.39)], being unemployed [AOR = 2.37 at 95% CI (1.34-4.20)], rural residence [AOR = 1.96 at 95% CI (1.10-3.51)], having diarrhea [AOR = 2.47, 95% CI (1.36-4.51)], fever [AOR = 2.05, 95% CI (1.03-4.10)], and pneumonia (AOR = 2.41), and exclusive breast feeding (AOR = 1.96, and exclusive breast feeding [AOR = 1.96, 95% CI (1.18-4.91)], and exclusive breast feeding (AOR = 1.96) minimum dietary diversity [AOR = 2.86, 95% CI (1.06-3.64)], minimum dietary diversity [AOR = 2.86, 95% CI (1.37-5.95)], weight measurement at birth [AOR = 0.86, 95% CI (0.08-0.93)], unplanned birth of the child [AOR = 1.97, 95% CI (1.02-3.78)], and non-immunized [AOR = 4.12, 95% CI (1.05-16.13)] were associated with acute malnutrition.

Conclusion: This research identified multiple risk factors for acute malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months, suggesting health interventions, and programs at all levels of the system executed in an organized manner with substantial program ramifications.