Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
ISSN: 2155-9600
Weldeabezgi AH, Mulugeta A, Haileslassie K, Mruts KB and Gebremedhin AT
Introduction: Kala-azar is one of the most neglected tropical infectious diseases. Malnutrition and Kala-azar are serious problems of public health significance, and most often exist together. Even though kala-azar remained endemic in Ethiopia, explicit data on the magnitude and factors associated with nutritional status of kala-azar patients are scarce. The study aimed to assess nutritional status and associated factors among adult kala-azar patients who were admitted in Kala-azar treatment centers of Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution based cross- sectional study was conducted from February 06 to April 01, 2014. The study included 379 adult kala-azar patients from all health facilities, which provide Kala-azar treatment using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews. Anthropometric measurements were obtained from each patient. Clinical information extracted from patients’ medical record. Data were entered to Epi Info software version 3.5.2 and analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess predictors of adult under nutrition. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% con?dence intervals and signi?cance level at p<0.05 was set.
Results: In this study, 379 patients were included with 99% response rate and majority of the patients were males (97.4%). The study showed that the magnitude of adult under nutrition was 74.1% (n=280). Patients with gastro intestinal disturbance and young adults were more likely to be undernourished.
Conclusion: Three in four of the kala-azar patients were undernourished. Age and gastro intestinal disturbance were predictors of undernutrition. Governmental and non-governmental organizations working on Kala-azar program should focus on deworming of clients, extensive health education on hygiene accompanied by nutritional support.