Prevalence, Pattern and Risk Factors of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children below Six Months Old in Jos North Central Nigeria

Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in infants of less than 6 months of age (U6m) is a serious public health concern globally, especially with declined rates of exclusive breastfeeding. With challenges in the use of the standard anthropometric parameters and higher mortality in these infants than in older children, it is pertinent to document the burden, pattern and risk factors for SAM in U6m. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SAM in U6m, the pattern and the determinants of malnutrition using weight-for-length (WFL) Z score and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and also to determine the usability of MUAC and WFL in detection of SAM in U6m. Infants six weeks to <6months were recruited. Socio-demographic and nutritional data were collected using researcher administered questionnaire. WFL z scores <-3 and MUAC <11.5cm were used to define SAM. Of the 233 infants aged<6months, mean age was 90.0±38.3days. Females accounted for 52.8%. Nineteen, (8.5%), were born with low birth weight and 11.7% were preterm deliveries. Males had higher mean length for age and weight for age than females but MUAC showed no significant difference. The prevalence of SAM was 2.6% by MUAC and WFL parameters but MUAC identified more SAM subjects in those <3months while WFL identified more in older children. Concordance between MUAC and WFL was poor. Both MUAC and WFL showed more female children than males with MAM. Lower social economic status was significantly associated with SAM while birth weight, birth order, maternal nutritional status and time of first feed did not affect prevalence of SAM in any of the parameters. It is recommended that both WFL and MUAC be employed in the screening of acute malnutrition in this U6m.