CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

4.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents results of analysis based on data collected on Prevalence of acute
malnutrition among children under five years in Madina district. To seek the declared objectives
of the study questionnaire collected from childs mothers. The fallowing sections described the
demographics data, data presentation and analyze, major findings and discussions.

4.1 DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

Total of 80 questionnaires were distributed among childs mothers and other respondents

Table 4.1 Respondents by age

Age
20-25
25-30
30-35
Above 36
Total

Frequency
26
34
13
7
80

Percentage
32.5%
42.5%
16.25%
8.75%
100%

The above table shows that most of the respondents 34 (42.5%) were aged between 25-30 years,
while 26 (32.5%) were age between 20-25 years and finally the rest of the respondents 20 (25%)
were age between 30-35 years and above. However, the table indicates that majority of the
respondents were age between 25-35 years. Graph 4.1 Respondents by age

Age

7
26

13

20-25 years
25-30 years
30-35 years
Above 36 years

34

Table 4.2 Respondents by sex

Sex
Male
Female
Total

Frequency
21
59
80

Percentage
26.25%
73.75%
100%

The above table illustrates, that the majority of the respondents 59 (73.75%) were female
followed by 21 (26.25%) were male.
Graph 2 respondents by sex

Sex

21
Male
Female

59

Table 4.3 Respondents according to marital status

Marital status

Frequency

Percentage

Single
Married
Divorced
Total

9
52
19
80

11.25%
65%
23.75%
100%

The above table indicates that most of the respondents 52(65%) were married followed by 28
(35%) were single and divorced.
Graph 3 Respondents according to marital status

Marital status
60

50

40
Marital status
30

52

20

10

19
9

0
Single

Married

Divorced

Table 4.4 respondents according to level of education

Level of education
Illiterate
Primary

Frequency
9
21

Percentage
11.25%%
26.25%%

Secondary
Degree
Total

34
16
80

42.5%
20%
100%

This table shows that majority of the respondents 55 (68.75%) were primary and secondary level,
followed by 16 (20%) were degree level and few number 9 (11.25%) were illiterate.
Graph 4 respondents according to level of education

Level of education
35
30
25
Level of education

20
34
15
21

10
5

16
9

0
Illiterate

Primary

Secondary

Degree

Table 4.5 respondents according to current profession

Current Profession
House wife
Self-employee
Health worker

Frequency
41
18
21

Percentage
51.25%%
22.5%%
26.25%

Total

80

100%

The above table illustrates that most of the respondents 41(52.25%) were house wife, while 21
(26.25%) were health workers and finally 18 (22.5%) were self employee.
Graph 5 respondents according to current profession

Current profession
45
40
35
30
Current profession

25
20

41

15
10

18

21

5
0
house wife

Self employee

health worker

Table 4.6 Respondents according to monthly income

Monthly income
$100
$100-200
$200-300
Total

Frequency
31
38
11
80

Percentage
38.75%
47.5%
13.75%
100%

This table shows majority of respondents 69 (86.25%) their monthly income was $100-$200
dollar while few number 11 (13.75%) their monthly income was between $200-$300.
Graph 6 respondents by monthly income

Monthly income
40

38

35
31
30
25
Monthly income
20
15
11
10
5
0
$100

$100-200

$200-300

Table 4.7 Respondents according to their childs weight

Childs weight
10.5 kg
14 kg
12 kg
15 kg
Total

Frequency
32
11
17
20
80

Percentage
40%
13.75%
21.25%
25%
100%

This table illustrates that most of the childs weight 32(40%) was 10.5kg, while 37 (46.25%)
were between 12-15 kg and the rest 11(13%) were 14 kg.
Graph 7 Respondents according to their childs weight

Child's weight
35
30
25
20
15

Child's weight
32

10

17

20

11

5
0
10.5 kg

14 kg

12 kg

15 kg

Table 4.8 respondents according to common predisposing factors of acute malnutrition

Predisposing factors of acute Frequency

Percentage

malnutrition
Lack of food
Poverty
Lack of immunization
Overcrowding
Total

57.5%
30%
7.5%
5%
100%

46
24
6
4
80

The above table shows that most of respondents 46 (57.5%) said the common predisposing
factors of acute malnutrition is lack of food, followed by 24 (30%) said poverty and few number
10 (12.5%) said lack of immunization and overcrowding respectively. So based on this table it
indicates that the most common predisposing factor of acute malnutrition is lack of food.
Graph 8 Respondents according to common predisposing factors of acute malnutrition

Common predisposing factors of acute malnutrition

4
Lack of food
Poverty
Lack of immunization
Overcrowding

24

46

Table 4.9 Respondents according to common age of acute malnutrition

Common

age

malnutrition
Infants
Preschool children
School children
Young children
Total

of

acute Frequency
33
28
13
6
80

Percentage
41.25%
35%
16.25%
7.5%
100%

This table indicates that common age of acute malnutrition is infants 33 (41.25%), followed by
28 (35%) are preschool age and rest 19 (23.75%) are school children and young children.
Graph 9 Respondents according to common age of acute malnutrition

Common age of malnutrition

35
30
25
20
15

33

Common age of
malnutrition

28

10
13

Table 4.10 Respondents according to treatment of acute malnutrition

Does of acute malnutrition Frequency

Percentage

treatable disease?
Yes
No
Total

78.75%
21.25%
100%

63
17
80

The above table shows that majority of the respondents 63 (78.75%) said acute malnutrition is
preventable disease while 17 (21.25%) said cannot be treatable. However, it indicates that acute
malnutrition is one of treatable diseases.
Graph 10 Respondents according to treatment of acute malnutrition

Does of acute malnutrition treatable disease?

17
Yes
No
63

Table 4.11 Respondents according to risk group of acute malnutrition

Risk group of acute malnutrition
Children with loss of appetite
Low immunity children
Un-immunized children
Children with no breastfeeding
Total

Frequency
8
22
31
19
80

Percentage
10%
27.5%
38.75%
23.75%
100%

The above table indicates that most of the respondents 31 (38.74%) said high risk of acute
malnutrition is un-immunized children, followed by 41 (51.25%) said low immunity children and
children with no breastfeeding respectively and finally few number 8 (10%) said children with
loss of appetite.
Graph 11 Respondents according to risk group of acute malnutrition

Risk group of acute malnutrition

Children with loss of

appetite

19

Low immunity children

22

Un-immunized children
Children with no
breastfeeding

31

Table 4.12 Respondents according to main cause of acute malnutrition

Main cause of acute malnutrition
Lack of food
Ignorance
Low income
poverty
Total

Frequency
27
33
8
12
80

Percentage
33.75%
41.25%
10%
15%
100%

Most of the respondents 33 (41.25%) said the main cause of acute malnutrition is lack of food
followed by 27 (33.75%) lack of food and about 20 (25%) said low income and poverty. The
above table illustrates that the main cause of acute malnutrition is ignorance or lack of education.
Graph 12 Respondents according to main cause of acute malnutrition

Main cause of acute malnutrition

33

35
30

27

25
Main cause of acute
malnutrition

20
12

15
8

10
5
0
Lack of food Ignorance

Low income

poverty

Table 4.13 Respondents according to danger sign of SAM

Danger sign of acute malnutrition
Edema
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Severe wasting
Total

Frequency
39
9
10
22
80

Percentage
48.75%
11.25%
12.5%
27.5%
100%

This table shows that approximately half of the respondents 39 (48.75%) said danger sign of
SAM is edema, followed by 22 (27.5%) said severe wasting and about 19 (40%) said loss of
appetite and diarrhea. So according the respondents the main sign of SAM is edema.
Graph 13 Respondents according to danger sign of SAM

Danger sign of acute malnutrition

40
35
30
Danger sign of acute
malnutrition

25
20

39

15
22
10
5

10

0
Edema Loss of appetite Diarrhea Severe wasting

Table 4.14 Respondents according to best method for measuring acute malnutrition
Best method for measuring acute malnutrition
Arm circumference
Weight for height
Weight for age
Edema assessment
Total
About half of the respondents 43(53.75%) said

Frequency Percentage
43
53.75%
21
26.25%
4
5%
12
15%
80
100%
that the best method for measuring acute

malnutrition is arm circumference, followed by 21 (26.25%) said weight for height, whereas 12

(15%) said edema assessment and about 4 (5%) said weight for age. In this table shows us the
best method for measuring acute malnutrition is arm circumference.
Graph 14 Respondents according to best method for measuring acute malnutrition

Best method for measuring acute malnutrition

12

Arm circumference

Weight for height

43

21

Weight for age

Edema assessment

Table 4.15 Respondents according to factors contributing acute malnutrition

Factors contributing acute malnutrition
Inappropriate child feeding
Lack of education
Climate change
Total

Frequency
47
30
3
80

Percentage
58.75%
37.5%
3.75%
100%

The above table indicates that majority of the respondents 47(58%) more than half said factors
contributing acute malnutrition is inappropriate child feeding followed by 30 (37.5%) said lack
of education and finally about 3 (3.75%) said climate change.
Graph 15 Respondents according to factors contributing acute malnutrition

Factors contributing acute malnutrition

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

47
Factors contributing acute
malnutrition

30

Table 4.16 Respondents according to Arm circumference result

Arm circumference result
> 12 cm
<12 cm
12 cm
Total

Frequency
4
73
3
80

Percentage
5%
91.25%
3.75%
100%

This table illustrates that majority of the respondents 73 (91.25%) agreed that a child can be
malnourished when Arm circumference is <12 cm, followed by 7 (8.75%) said > 12 cm or equal
12 cm.
Graph 16 Respondents according to Arm circumference result

Arm circumference result

73

80
70
60
50

Arm circumference result

40
30
20
10

0
> 12 cm

<12 cm

12 cm

Table 4.17 Respondents according to most complication of acute malnutrition

Have you ever heard about malnutrition
Yes
No
Total

Frequency
69
11
80

Percentage
86.25%
13.75%
100%

The above table illustrates that majority of the respondents 69 (86.25%) heard about acute
malnutrition, whereas 11 (13.75%) did not hear about malnutrition. It represents that most of
respondents aware about acute malnutrition.
Graph 17 Respondents according to most complication of acute malnutrition

Have you ever heard about malnutrition

11
Yes
No
69

Table 4.18 Respondents according most complication of acute malnutrition

Most complication of acute malnutrition
Hypothermia
Diarrhea
Growth retardation
Death
Total

Frequency
24
12
35
9
80

Percentage
30%
15%
43.75%
11.25
100%

According to this table majority of the respondents 59 (45%) agreed that the most complication
of acute malnutrition is hypothermia and growth retardation followed by 21 (26.25%) said
diarrhea and death.
Graph 18 Respondents according most complication of acute malnutrition

Most complication of acute malnutrition

35
30
25
20
Most complication of acute
malnutrition

15
10
5
0

Table 4.19 Respondents according to diagnosis of acute malnutrition

How acute malnutrition is diagnosed
Anthropometric measurement
Nutritional assessment
Laboratory test
Total

Frequency
45
28
7
80

Percentage
56.25%
35%
8.75%
100%

The above table shows that majority of the respondents 73 (91.25%) said that acute malnutrition
can be diagnosed through anthropometric measurement and nutritional assessment followed by 7
(8.75%) said acute malnutrition can be diagnosed through laboratory test.
Graph 19 Respondents according to diagnosis of acute malnutrition

How acute malnutrition is diagnosed

45
40
35
30

How acute malnutrition is

diagnosed

25
20
15
10
5
0
Anthropometric measurement

Laboratory test

Table 4.20 Respondents according to prevention of acute malnutrition

Does acute malnutrition is preventable disease
Yes
No
Total

Frequency
67
13
80

Percentage
56.25%
35%
100%

The above table indicates that majority of the respondents 67 (56.25%) said that acute
malnutrition is preventable disease whereas 13 (35%) said cannot be prevented.
Graph 20 Respondents according to prevention of acute malnutrition

Does acute malnutrition is preventable disease

13
Yes
No
67