Factors Associated with Acute Malnutrition in Children from 0 To 5 Years in 8 Regions of Senegal

Acute malnutrition is both a medical problem and a social problem. The child's medical problems are partly the result of social problems of the home in which he lives. The successful management of acute malnutrition passes through the recognition and solution of problems, both medical and social. Therefore, this study aimed to assess factors associated with emaciation of children 0 59 months in eight regions of Senegal where the nutritionalsituation haddeteriorated. A quick survey, standardized and simplified, conducted by the SMART methodology was performed from November 3 to December 19, 2014. This was a cross-sectional survey in two-stage clusters, featuring a collection of individual anthropometric and health data and the household data. Data were entered in the ENA software where a first analysis was performed using the new WHO standards and those of NCHS. After this first phase a bivariate analysis with Epi Info software was conducted. Then all variables with p <0.25 were included in the multiple logistic regression analysis to study the relative importance of factors associated with the dependent variable that is of acute malnutrition of the child in its two phases (moderate and severe). The adequacy of the model was made by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. A total of 8755 children were interviewed in 8628 households. The sex ratio was equal to 1.01. The average age of children was 27 months with a standard deviation of 16. The risk of MAM was higher among male children (ORa = 1.30), the 24-59 age group (ORa = 1.21), having experienced at least one episode of diarrhea during the last 15 days (ORa = 1.32) and being supplemented with vitamin A (ORa = 1.71). The risk of SAM was higher among male children (ORa = 1.65), having experienced at least one episode of diarrhea during the last 15 days preceding the survey (ORa = 2.52) and not having benefited from the anti measles vaccination (ORa = 2.04). The analysis conducted in this study has allowed to identify factors that are associated with different degrees of acute malnutrition. Methods of analysis of acute malnutrition among children surveyed showed the importance of action at the immediate and underlying factors. It will be therefore to improve care practices in order to reduce morbidity, to promote key behaviors within households.