| dc.description.abstract | Malnutrition is prevalent among hospitalized patients and is associated with higher complication
of the disease and mortality. The risk for malnutrition and the causative factors have not yet been
very clearly elucidated. This study was designed to study the prevalence and factors associated
with In-hospital malnutrition amongst hospitalized paediatric patients aged 6-59 months in
Kenyatta National Hospital.
A prospective / descriptive study was undertaken with 172 children aged 6-59 months
hospitalized for at least a day with their mothers/caregivers as respondents. Nutritional status was
assessed by Weight-for-age, weight-for-height and height-for-age Z-scores and In-hospital
malnutrition was classified as weight loss (less than or equal to) >/= 0.5 kg. Semi-structured
questionnaires were used to collect socio-demography and socio-economic information,
nutritional status at admission and discharge, morbidity progression, length of hospitalisation and
referral to the Nutrition Department. Data was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic
regression methods.
Results showed that malnutrition is a serious problem among hospitalised paediatric patients.
Nutritional status at admission was diagnosed as wasting 43.9%, stunting 29.2 %, and
underweight at 45.4%. At discharge wasting was determined as 43.2%, stunting at 33.6% and
underweight at 45.9 %. 38.4% Patients were classified with in-hospital malnutrition. The inhospital
malnutrition prevalence was significantly higher in patients aged 6-17 months at 73.1%
than other age groups. Patients with diarrhoea were significantly more likely to be malnourished
compared to those without diarrhoea (Odds ratio [OR] = 21.4, P<0.001). The risk factors for inhospital
malnutrition were wasting (OR = 5.02, P< 0.05), diarrhoea (OR = 23.4, P<0.001),
nutrition education (OR = 0.123, P< 0.05), Appetite (OR = 0.079, P<0.001) and length of
hospitalisation (OR = 2.75, P< 0.00).
The study concludes that paediatric patients who are wasted at admission, have diarrheal
infection, reduced appetite, are hospitalized for long duration, have reduced appetite and whose
caregivers have not received nutrition education are at high risk of developing hospital
malnutrition. Diarrhea infection is the greatest risk factor for hospital malnutrition. | en |
