Feeding practices, prevalence and factors associated with concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) among children under five years attending health facilities in Southwestern Uganda

Abstract Background Malnutrition remains a significant factor determining health and survival of children in countries with low and middle income. The indicators utilized traditionally to separately assess the magnitude of malnutrition in communities have been reported by recent studies to have ignored the impact of simultaneous anthropometric deficits. This study aimed to determine the feeding practices, prevalence and factors associated with concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) among children under 5 years attending health facilities in Southwestern Uganda (Bushenyi district) Methods This was a health facility-based, cross sectional study that enrolled 321 patients. The data related to feeding practices and socio demographic factors was collected using interview of caregivers while the weight and length were obtained using a digital weighing scale and an infantometer/stadiometer respectively. Concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) was diagnosed if both weight for length and height for age were under − 2SD. Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) in SPSS version 26. Results The prevalence of WaSt was 4%. Early initiation of breast feeding was done in 85.1%, exclusive breastfeeding in 64.7%, continued breastfeeding in 63.1%, minimum diet diversity received in 33.7% and minimum meal frequency in 78.1%. The factors associated with WaSt were the presentation with diarrhea (aOR = 1.269, CI = 1.138–1.414, P < 0.001), pneumonia (aOR = 1.230, CI = 1.095–1.383, P = 0.001), not receiving minimum diet diversity (aOR = 1.235, CI = 1.052–1.265, P = 0.001), being a child to an unmarried mother, mother's MUAC < 22cm ((aOR = 1.316, CI = 1.144–1.514, P < 0.001) and not receiving nutritional counselling (aOR = 1.061, CI = 1.017–1.107, P = 0.006). Conclusion The prevalence of concurrent wasting and stunting (WaSt) among children under five years attending health facilities in Bushenyi district was in global prevalence range (4%). Complementary feeding practices indicators were poor particularly food diversity. Healthcare providers should screen systematically children under five for multiple anthropometric deficits.