TITLE:
Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Children under 5 Years Old Hospitalized in the Kabezi Health District Hospital in Burundi during the Period from 2015 to 2022
AUTHORS:
Séverin Sindayikengera, Albert Iribagiza, Manirakiza Josiane, Elysée Nibaruta, Michel Baseka, Emmanuel Banzubaze, Jonathan Niyukuri
KEYWORDS:
Marasmus, Kwashiokor, Malnutrition and Nutritional Status of Children
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.16 No.8,
August
11,
2025
ABSTRACT: A study on the assessment of the nutritional status of children under 5 years old was carried out in the Kabezi Health District. Data recorded at the Therapeutic Stabilization Service (SST) on cases of malnutrition, in the period from 2015 to 2021, were analyzed. It was revealed that 9 health centers out of 23 in the Kabezi Health District (HD) had cases of malnutrition. The most affected was the Kabezi health center, which alone accounted for 19% of the cases identified. The entropometric parameters made it possible to know the extent and severity of the nutritional status of children under 5 years old. The Body Mass Index highlighted the minimum weigh registered was 5 kg/m2 while the general average was 10 kg/m2. The analysis of the presence of edema showed that 51% suffered from kwashiorkor while 49% suffered from marasmus. The study of the evolution over time revealed that the trend of the decrease in cases and severity is positive but with a low rhythm. The estimated projections indicate that 0 cases of marasmus and kwashiokor will be reached in 2046. Thus, this study shows how much decision-makers can make efforts to completely eradicate these sufferings in children under 5 years old and which have consequences on the overall development of the country.