Factors associated with chronic malnutrition in Mazowe district, Mashonaland Central province, 2012

Abstract

Introduction: The rate of stunting in Zimbabwe was recorded as 35% in 2012. Mashonaland Central Province recorded 2168 cases of malnutrition and 964(44%) were from Mazowe District, despite the fact that the district has the best in terms of food security. The objective was to determine the factors associated with chronic malnutrition in Mazowe District in 2012. Methods: A 1:1 unmatched case control study was carried out in health facilities in Mazowe District to determine the factors associated with chronic malnutrition. A case was defined as a mother or caregiver of any child <5years in Mazowe district who is chronically malnourished registered in the malnutrition register at the health facility and is stunted (children whose height for age z score is below -2 standard deviation from the median of the reference population) during the period January 2012 and December 2012. A control was defined as mother or caregiver of any child less than five (5) years who was suffering from conditions other than malnutrition and was not stunted, during the period January 2012 to December 2012 in Mazowe District. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect data from both cases and controls and Epi Info 3.5.1 statistical software was used to analyze data. Results: A total of 78 cases and 78 controls were enrolled into the study. Factors independently associated with chronic malnutrition were; a child who had diarrhea in the last three months (adjusted OR=6.33, CI 2.8-14.00) and failing to breastfeed because of pressure of work (adjusted OR=3.37, CI 1.1-10.00). Fever was a significant risk factor (adjusted OR=3.57, CI 1.84-6.90). Conclusion: Chronic malnutrition was associated with diarrhea, failure to breastfeed and fever in Mazowe District. We recommend early treatment of diarrhea, childhood illness and promotion of breastfeeding in Mazowe district. Mothers were given health education on breastfeeding.