UNDERNUTRITION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN 6-59 MONTHS OF AGE IN QOLOJI INTERNALLY DISPLACED POPULATION OF CAMP, SOMALI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition among internally displaced children is a critical public health concern due to the intensified vulnerability of this age group. However, there is paucity of information on the magnitude of undernutrition and associated factors among children from internally displaced communities in lowincome countries like Ethiopia. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among children 6-59 months of age in internally displaced population of Qoloji camp, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia, from March 01-April 01/2019. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out from March1-Aprile1, 2019. A total of 713 children from Qoloji Internally displaced population Camp aged 6–59 months were included in the study. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the independent determinants of stunting, wasting and underweight. Result: The overall prevalence of undernutrition among children 6-59 months of age in the study area was 60.1% of this wasting was 35.6%, 95% CI :( 32%, 39%), stunting was 24.5, 95% CI: (21.1%, 27.7%), and underweight was 31.1%, 95% CI :( 27.6%, 34.7%).Family size≥7 [AOR=3.5; 95%CI: (2.4, 5.1)], living in households with poor wealth status [AOR: 2.2, 95% CI: (1.3, 3.7)] and lack of maternal formal education [AOR=8.7, 95% CI: (1.1, 65.6)] were positively associated with stunting. Underweight was positively associated with, ≥7 family size [AOR :2.7; 95% CI: (1.9, 3.9)], ≥2 under-five children in the household [AOR:1.5; 95% CI: (1.003, 2.3)], living in the poor [AOR=8.5; 95% CI: (4.1, 17.5)] and medium wealth status households [AOR=12; 95% CI: (5.6, 25.4)], being male sex [AOR=1.5; 95% CI: (1.03, 2.2)], and presence of diarrhea and/or vomiting [AOR=1.6; 95% CI: (1.1, 2.4)] two weeks prior to the survey. Age of 37-59 months [AOR=0.4; 95% CI: (0.2, 0.8)] was negatively associated with underweight. Living in poor household [AOR=6.5; 95%CI:(3.5, 12.1)], family size of ≥7 [AOR=2.2; 95%CI:(1.5, 3.1)] and presence of diarrhea and vomiting [AOR=1.5; 95%CI: (1.03, 2.2)], positively associated with wasting. On the other hand child‘s age of 24-36months [AOR=0.6; 95%CI: (0.4, 0.9)] was negatively associated with wasting. Conclusion: This study illustrates that undernutrition is critically high in Qoloji internally displaced population camp. Family size≥7, living in poor households and lack of maternal formal education,≥2 under-five children ,being male sex, Child age of 37-59 months and presence of diarrhea and vomiting were determinant factors of undernutrition. Therefore, attention should be targeted at children living in Qoloji camp. There is need to emphasis should be given to the importance of family planning, prevention and treatment of child acute illnesses for addressing child undernutrition