Abstract:
Malnutrition is a serious condition that occurs when a person‟s diet doesn't contain the
right amount of nutrients. It is a chronic public health problem among under-five
children in the developing world. In Kenya it is also the single greatest contributor to
child mortality yet information on contributing socio-cultural factors has not been well
documented. The main objective of this study was to investigate the socio-cultural
factors that contribute to under nutrition among children below five years in Garissa sub
county, Kenya. A cross-sectional study was employed where mixed methods were used.
A sample of 365 children under five years was selected from households using the
systematic sampling method. Pre-tested questionnaire and FGDs were the instruments
employed to collect data. Pearson‟s chi-square test and odds ratio with corresponding
95% confidence interval were used to establish the association between the dependent
variable (Nutritional status) and independent variables. The level of statistical
significance was set at P-value <0.05. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed
to determine the independent factors associated with malnutrition. The findings of the
study reveal that 38.1% of the children were found to be stunted, 31% underweight and
26% wasted. The factors that were independently associated with occurrence of stunting
at multivariate analysis included: child‟s age (13-24 months) [AOR=2.71; 95%CI=1.50-
4.87; P<0.001] and (25-36 months) [AOR=2.37; 95%CI=1.27-4.42; P<0.007], weaning
within two months of age [AOR=3.12; 95%CI=1.87-5.23; P<0.001], cost of preparing
food for the child[AOR=2.07; 95%CI=1.31-3.27; P<0.002]. Similarly factors that were
independently associated with occurrence of underweight after multivariate analysis
were: low birth weight (<2.5kgs) [AOR=3.16; 95%CI=1.90- 5.27; P<0.001]; child‟s
gender (female) [AOR=1.86; 95%CI=1.12-3.08; P<0.017]; recent illness [AOR=1.76;
95%CI=1.07- 2.91; P<0.027] and households income [AOR=3.11; 95%CI=1.19-8.12;
P<0.021]. The factors that were independently associated with occurrence of wasting
after multivariate analysis were: child‟s age (37-54 months) [AOR=3.07; 95%CI=1.47-
6.39; P<0.003], recent illness [AOR=2.54; 95%CI=1.52- 4.25; P<0.001]; mothers who
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didn‟t attend ANC [AOR=2.06; 95%CI=1.18-3.62; P<0.012] and mothers/guardians age
[OR=4.52; 95%CI=1.57-13.01; P<0.005] The prevalence of child malnutrition among
the under five children was high, indicating that the nutrition situation in study area is
very critical. Therefore, malnutrition still remains a major public health problem thus
program planners and policy makers in the Ministry of Health and stakeholders should
consider and strengthen collaboration and coordination of nutritional programs that aim
to alleviate nutritional deficiencies by addressing the above significant factors.