Prevalence and risk factors of acute malnutrition among pre-school children in internally displaced person settlements within Abuja Municipal Area Council

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Malnutrition is pervasive among displaced
populations worldwide. Adequate
nutrition is essential to the growth
and development of all children,
particularly in the preschool age.
Methodology: This cross-sectional
study was conducted in four internally displaced person (IDP) settlements and their host communities within the Abuja municipal
area council between April and
May 2019. Using a multistage
sampling method, subjects were
recruited after parents’ informed
consent, from the IDP settlements
and equal numbers were drawn
from their host communities. The
proportion of acute malnutrition
using weight for height, MUAC,
BMI-for-age Z scores were compared to the 2006 WHO standards. Predictors were determined
by logistic regression and statistical significance was set at p less
than 0.05.
Results: There were 1,179 children aged six to 59 months recruited in each group. The prevalence of wasting was 7.7% (91),
moderate acute malnutrition was
7.2% (85), and severe acute malnutrition was 3.1% (37) among the
IDPs while they were 7.1% (84),
6.5% (77) and 2.9% (34) respectively in the host communities.
The predictors for wasting in both
groups were age below 24months
(Adj OR, 95% CI - 3.88, 2.38 - 6.32), low birth weight (Adj OR,
95% CI – 2.70, 1.55 – 4.71) and
diarrheal disease (Adj OR, 95% CI
- 5.45, 2.38 - 12.44). Location was
predictive only in the host communities (Adj OR, 95% CI – 2.69,
1.37 – 5.28).
Conclusion and recommendation:
Acute malnutrition was high
among the pre-school children in
this study. The nutritional needs
of displaced children in the FCT
should be met and their families
educated on prompt recognition
and treatment of diarrhoea. Keywords: acute malnutrition, pre
-school children, IDP, Host communit