TITLE:
Prevalence of Malnutrition among Preschool Children in the Katuba Health District. Case of the Katuba General Reference Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
André Nyembo Shimba, Christian Antoine Mulimbi, Danny Mwadi Kilemba, Prosper Pamba Mazomena, Pierrot Ilunga Musaya, Delphin Monga Mwenze, Augustin Kalume Tshomba, Dressen Ilunga Makonga, Dieu Merci Kabila Mukala, Dicta Mwamba Mulobe, Danny Mufite Kapya, Berth Tshikala Kosa, Martin Banza Mwana Bute, Felly Kalenga Ngoy, Bienfait Mwarabu Much’Apa, Abdon Mukalay wa Mukalay, Simon Ilunga Kandolo
KEYWORDS:
Katuba, General Referral Hospital, Malnutrition Preschool Age
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.10 No.2,
February
23,
2023
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Malnutrition is one of the main causes of mortality in Africa among children aged from 0 to 5 years old. It is a real public health problem. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study on malnutrition in preschool children at the Katuba General Reference Hospital. Results: Edema was present in 25% of cases and 73 or 42.69% of the children were in the age group of 13 to 18 months; 69.59% were females. We observed that 58.48% of the children were vaccinated against 41.52 who were not vaccinated. Many parents of children were married (52.6%). Most parents had a liberal profession (53.8%) parents with a liberal profession were in the majority (53.8%). Moderate acute malnutrition represented 9.36% according to Z-score Weight for age and 12.28% Severe acute malnutrition according to arm circumference. Conclusion: Malnutrition remains a scourge in Lubumbashi. It is important that a communication campaign be favored to promote local foods rich in essential elements, accessible to fight against malnutrition.