The Burden and Correlates of Undernutrition Among Children Aged 6–59 Months in Busoga Sub-Region, Uganda: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study Data
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2-2025
Abstract
This study examined the burden and correlates of undernutrition among children aged 6-59 months in the Busoga Sub-Region of Eastern Uganda. This community-based cross-sectional study utilized quantitative data collection methods comprising 439 caregiver-child dyads with children aged 6-59 months. Probability proportionate to size randomized sampling determined eligible households per village. World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards defined child stunting, underweight, and wasting. Logistic regression analyses generated crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for child wasting and underweight correlates. Modified Poisson regression analyses generated unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) of child stunting correlates. Significance was set at p< 0.05. The mean child age was 27(SD±14) months, with 230 (52.4%) males. Among children, 29.6% were stunted, 8.8% were underweight, and 8.2% were wasted. Children with wasting had a higher likelihood of having experienced diarrhea (AOR=2.8[1.3-5.9], p=0.007), measles (AOR=2.2[1.1-4.6], p=0.045), and no breastfeeding history (AOR=5.7[1.3-26], p=0.024). caregivers aged 26-44 (AOR=0.3[0.1-0.8], p=0.023) were less likely to have underweight children. In contrast, child underweight was significantly associated with maternal parity (AOR=5.2[1.3-21], p=0.020), no breastfeeding history (AOR=9.0[1.7-48], p=0.01), child not fully vaccinated (AOR=7.0[2.2-22], p=0.001), and recent diarrhea experience (AOR=2.4[1.2-5.4], p=0.042). Children were more likely to experience stunting if they were not fully vaccinated (APR=1.9 [1.2-3.0], p=0.009), and resided in households with 4-5 people (APR=1.8[1.1-3.2], p=0.029) or more than six household members (APR=2.0[1.2-3.6], p=0.014). Integrated nutrition-sensitive interventions, including the promotion of increased vaccination coverage, family planning, and optimal infant and young child feeding practices, could improve child growth in the region and similar locales.
Recommended Citation
Komakech, Joel; Nsubuga, Edirisa; Nansubuga, Flavia; Reda, Hailu H.; and Aborade, Abdullahi, "The Burden and Correlates of Undernutrition Among Children Aged 6–59 Months in Busoga Sub-Region, Uganda: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study Data" (2025). Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. 1.
https://digital.library.ncat.edu/family-and-consumer-sciences/1