Malnutrition among children 6-59 months in Atwima Kwanwoma District, Ashanti Region-Ghana

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JUNE, 2016
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Background: Malnutrition is one of the leading nutrition- related conditions among children under five years. Child malnutrition leads to extreme weight loss, stunted growth, weakened resistance to infections and death. About 60 million children in the world have moderate acute and also 13 million are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In African children almost 9% suffer from moderate acute malnutrition, whilst 2% accounts for severe acute malnourished children in the developing world. Death is closely linked to the severity of the malnutrition, given a severe wasting mortality rate of 73- 187 per 1000 children per year. The study was to establish malnutrition level among children 6 to 59 months old in Atwima Kwanwoma district. Methods: descriptive cross sectional study design involving 172 children aged 6-59 months and below who attended child health clinics were randomly sampled, measurements were taken on weight, length and mid upper arm circumference of these children. Prevalence and type of malnutrition were established using z scores. Results: Results from the study showed an overall point prevalence of malnutrition of 21.00%. However, the point prevalence of malnutrition in the district for the various types of malnutrition were as follows; 22.7%, 37.8% and 21.0% of the children were wasted, stunted and undernourished respectively. A detailed examination of malnutrition indicated that more males were affected than females. All the three degrees of malnutrition were not prevalent in children of all age groups and that different determinants may be at play. The following variables were associated with malnutrition: marital status, knowing the type of food that the child should consume, treat water before drinking, child craves for certain food, source of drinking water and type of toilet. Conclusion: Malnutrition level among children between 6-59months in the district was very high 21.0% and was associated with the age of the children rather that their sex group. The younger the child the more likely they are susceptible to malnutrition.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Health Science, School of Public Health, in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion June, 2016
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