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

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.