TITLE:
Prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in Children ≤ 5 Years of Age in Some Conflict Hit Areas of Meme Division of the South West Region of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Asoba Gillian Nkeudem, Ebong Fidelis Sameh, Samuel Metuge, Teh Rene Ning, Ngede Laura Senge, Sumbele Irene Ngole
KEYWORDS:
Malnutrition, Anaemia, Prevalence, Conflict Hit Areas
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.15 No.4,
April
7,
2024
ABSTRACT: Malnutrition refers to the deficiency, imbalances, or excesses in a
person’s intake of energy or nutrients [1]. Khan defines anaemia as below level of Haemoglobin in red blood shown
by a lower number of functioning red blood cells [2]. The crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon has led
to several negative effects on children’s living conditions. There has been an
increase in malnutrition and anaemia in the South West Region and Kumba in
particular. The main objective of this study was “to
examine the prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age in some conflict-hit areas of Meme Division”. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 from March to June. We recruited 200 children ≤ 5 years into the study from three hospitals. The
regional hospital annex in Kumba, Presbyterian General Hospital Kumba and the
Ntam Hospital in Kumba. Socio-demographic factors were assessed using
questionnaire, nutritional status was assessed by the use anthropometric
measurements and an auto haematology analyser was used to determine anaemia.
The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study area was 40.5%. The
prevalence of malnutrition varied significantly (P