Risk Factors for Early Childhood Malnutrition in Uganda

OBJECTIVE: To assess the dietary and environmental factors influencing stunting and other signs of poor nutritional status of children 18 months to <24 months), low socioeconomic status of the family, poor education of the mother of infants <12 months, lack of paraffin as fuel, consumption of food of low energy density (<350 kcal/100 g dry matter), presence of eye pathology, and consumption of small meals. Risk factors for low MUAC were poor health, lack of meat and cow's milk consumption, low intake of energy from fat, and less well educated and older mothers. Food taboos had no influence on any of the anthropometric measurements. Although 93.1% of the children had been immunized against tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, and measles and showed better general health than children who were not immunized, there was a high prevalence of infection in the week preceding the survey interview, including diarrhea (23.0%), malaria (32.3%), or cough/influenza (72.8%). CONCLUSIONS: This first account of dietary and environmental risk factors involved in the etiology of early childhood malnutrition in Uganda indicates differences in risk factors for marasmus and underweight compared with stunting and low MUAC. The high prevalence of malnutrition and current infection of children in this survey suggests poor immune function as a result of inadequate nutrition.