Factors influencing weight gain in children under two years admitted to Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit Mulago Hospital

Abstract

Background; Children under two years admitted with malnutrition often gain weight inadequately with more than 90% of the children failing to gain adequate weight at discharge. This study investigated factors that influence weight gain among children less than two years admitted to Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit in order to recommend measures to mitigate the problem. Objectives; the study determined individual, maternal and service related factors that influence weight gain of malnourished children less than two years admitted in Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Mulago Hospital Methods; the study was conducted in the Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital, Mwanamugimu. It employed a cross sectional design and involved 237 children less than 24 months admitted on the Inpatient Therapeutic Care programme. Findings and recommendations; factors that were found to influence weight gain included; age of the child, age of mother/caregiver, deworming, length of stay, and mother‟s knowledge on their role in the management of their child while on treatment at bivariate level and at multivariate level, significant factors included age of mother, age of child, length of stay and deworming. Recommendations included; strengthening deworming and nutrition counseling of mothers; reviewing of the IMAM protocol with regard to length of stay and recommended weight gain for specific age groups as well as supporting more research to better understand factors that influence weight gain of malnourished children