ABSTRACT

Malnutrition is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity among under-five children in Sub Saharan Africa. To understand the determinants of malnutrition among under –five children, a study was conducted in Araba and  kalmalo  districts of Illela l/g  to Understand the determinants in these districts Majority of the children were aged 37-59 months 54(51.9%) and followed by those aged 13-36 months 44 (42.3%) respectively the average age of the children in months is 37 with a standard deviation of 6.4 months. Half of the children 52 (50%) were of birth order 1-2 with a few in the birth order of 3-4 being 26 (25%) and 5 or more order 26 (25%) respectively. Most of the children were of birth intervals equal or less than two years 46 (44.2%). There were also quite a large number of children born in the birth interval of 3-4 years 43 (41.3%) More than half of the under-five children in the study were females 53 (51%) and on the other hand 51 (49.0%) were males Based on the age of the mother at birth, majority of the children had their mothers aged 30-39 years 42 (44.4%) while quite a significant proportion was also from children whose mothers at birth were aged 20-29 years 34 (32.7%). Few of the children were from mothers aged less than 20 years 16 (15.4%) and 40-49 years 12 (11.5%) at birth respectively. In conclusion, it is worthy to note that the study is essential in pointing out the particular age-groups among under five children as well as the occupations that contribute to malnutrition in  the districts of Araba and  kalmalo. Based on the findings, the study recommends exclusive breast feeding and proper complementary feeding especially among those aged less  than three years. Special arrangement could also be put in place to have children of mothers engaged in cultivation brought regularly for breastfeeding. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION  .............................................................................................  i

APPROVAL BY SUPERVISORS  ..................................................................  ii

DEDICATION  .................................................................................................iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  ............................................................................  iv

ABSTRACT  ....................................................................................................  v

LIST OF ACRONYMS/ ABBREVIATIONS  ................................................  ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION  ..............................................................  1

1.1 Background to the study  ............................................................................  1

1.2 Problem Statement  ..................................................................................... 4

1.3 Main objective  ............................................................................................ 6

1.4 Specific objectives  ...................................................................................... 6

1.5 Hypotheses  .................................................................................................  6

1.6 Scope of the study  ........................................................................................7 

1.7 Conceptual frame work  ................................................................................7 

1.8 Significance of the study  .............................................................................9

1.9 Structure of the dissertation  .......................................................................10

CHAPTER TWO:LITERATURE REVIEW  .............................................11

2.1 Introduction  .............................................................................................  11

2.2 Malnutrition among under-five Children  ...................................................11 

2.3 Child related factors of under five malnutrition …………………………13

2.4 Maternal factors of malnutrition among under-five children  ...................19                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

2.5 Summary of the literature review  ............................................................  27

CHAPTER THREE:METHODOLOGY  ................................................   28

3.1 Introduction  ..............................................................................................28

3.2 Study Population  ...................................................................................  28

3.3 Data Source  ..........................................................................................  28

3.4 Study Variable Specification  ................................................................ 29

3.5 Anthropometric analysis  ....................................................................... 31

3.6  Data analysis  ......................................................................................  32                                      

3.7 Limitations of the study  .......................................................................  33

CHAPTER FOUR:MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS …………………………………………………………………..  34

4.1 Introduction  .........................................................................................  34

4.2 Background characteristics of children and caretakers  .......................  34

4.3 Levels of malnutrition among under five children  ..............................  41

4.4 Relationship between child and maternal factors with malnutrition among under-five children  ......................................................................................................... 44

4.5 Determinants of malnutrition among under-five children in Araba and Kalmalo districts.  ........................................................................................................  51

CHAPTER FIVE:SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS  AND  RECOMMENDATIONS  ......................................................................................................................  55

5.1 Introduction  ..........................................................................................  55

5.2 Summary of findings ...............................................................................63

5.3 Conclusion  ..............................................................................................63 

5.4 Recommendations  ..................................................................................64

5.5 Areas for further studies .........................................................................65

REFERENCES  ..........................................................................................  66

APPENDICES  ..........................................................................................  72

APPENDIX I: RESEARCH INSTRUMENT  ...........................................  76

APPENDIX II: A MAP SHOWING STUDY AREA