Prevalence Of Protein-energy Malnutrition (pem) And Its Associated Household-related Factors

Abstract

The present study attempted to investigate the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and its associated factors among young children 6 to 36 months old in a rural kamba community, Kenya. Data were collected by the questionnaire/interview.. method including personal observations. Anthropometric measurements of weight, length, and circumferences of the head, chest and mid upper arm were taken and compared to standards. Clinical signs of ~ PEM observed included hair changes mental changes, skin changes, oedema and moonface but finally only odema was considered when assessing nutritional status of the children. Laboratory investigations were made on serum prealbumin and serum transferrin, haemoglobin level, packed cell volume and helminthic ova and protozoal cysts in stools. A total of 224 children were examined and 83(37.1%) of them had PEM as defined by a deficit in weight for age (less than 80% Harvard Standard) plus or minus oedema.Acute PEM as defined by low weight for length ratio (less than 90% Harvard Standard) was evident in 89(39.7%) children. Chronic p~~ (or nutritional dwarfism or stunting) determined by a deficit in length for age of less than 90 percent Harvard Standard was found in 50(22.3%) children. Low upper arm circumference for age liess than 80% Wolanski Standard) \was found in only 14(6.3%) children. The observed prevalence rate of PEM of 37.1 percent was significantly associated with low maternal school education-(less than 5 years of schooling), occupation of head of the household, environmental hygiene, village location and ex and birth order of child. Recommendations of preventing and solving the problems of protein-energy malnutrition in the study area and in the country as a whole are made at the end.