Factors Associated with Malnutrition among Under Five in Bosaso, Puntland Somalia

Abstract

Malnutrition accounts for 52.5% of all deaths among young children across the world. Approximately 45% of all mortalities among young children in Somalia are due to under-nutrition. In Puntland, 11% of children are wasted, while in Bari, where Bosaso is located, 37% of children are underweight. This study aimed to determine factors correlated with malnutrition among children aged five years and below in the Bosaso region, Puntland - Somalia. A descriptive cross-sectional study design with purposive sampling method was deployed. The study targeted children aged less than 5 years and their mothers who attend the maternal and child health clinic and pediatric outpatient clinic at Bender Qassim Hospital in Puntland, Somalia. A total of 159 children were selected for the study. Data was gathered through face-to-face interviews with the children’s parents, while the anthropometric assessment was done using a height board and electronic weighing scales. Data analysis was aided by SPSS software involving descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. The study found that the child factor associated with malnutrition is exclusive breastfeeding, while the maternal aspect connected with malnutrition in children under 5 years includes monthly income. The majority (82.8%, n=29) of the severely wasted children were not exclusively breastfed for up to six months of their life. This was associated with wasting (p= 0.001). Despite numerous intervention programs to curb malnutrition in Bosaso, high incidences of malnutrition are still recorded. There is need for the government to strengthen active case findings for children with malnutrition so that they can be admitted to nutrition programs for management. While global and national efforts have been made to combat malnutrition in Somalia, few have deeply explored the specific, localized influences within Puntland, particularly Bosaso.