Magnitude Of Undernutrition And Associated Factors Among Children With Congenital Heart Disease Attending Pediatric Outpatient And Chronic Follow Up In Ambo Town Public Hospitals, West Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024 G.C.

Abstract

Background: Undernutrition is the condition that arises when individuals do not consume enough energy and nutrients to fulfill their needs, resulting in problems such as stunted growth, wasting, and being underweight. Children with congenital heart diseases are especially at risk for undernutrition, often experiencing delays in weight gain and growth that can range from mild to severe. However, research on this topic is scarce, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the magnitude of undernutrition and its associated factors among children with congenital heart disease attending pediatric outpatient and chronic follow-up in Ambo town public hospitals, West Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at public hospitals in Ambo town from February 8, 2024, to July 8, 2024, focusing on children with congenital heart disease. The study involved 415 children under the age of 15 years and utilized a consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and chart reviews, which included anthropometric measurements and medical histories from patient records. The data was coded and entered to Epi-data version 4.6, WHO Antro version 3.2.2 and WHO Antro plus version 1.0.4 and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used, and variables with a p-value less than 0.25 in bivariable logistic regression were included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and a p-value <0.05 were employed to identify statistically significant associations. Result: Out of 415 samples, 397 children participated, yielding a response rate of 95.7%. The magnitude of undernutrition among children with congenital heart disease was 162 (40.81%), 95% CI (35.25- 46.60), and of those 40.3%, 36.52%, and 33.5% were underweight, wasting, and stunting, respectively. Children whose parents received nutrition related information [AOR=2.6, 95% CI: (1.28, 5.28), being female [AOR=3.49, 95% CI: (1.99, 6.11)], children who had comorbidities [AOR=1.89, 95% CI: (1.08, 3.31)], and children residing in rural areas [AOR=3.57, 95% CI: (1.85, 6.89)] were significantly associated with undernutrition among children with congenital heart disease. Conclusion: The magnitude of undernutrition among children with congenital heart disease is high as compared to the WHO report. The government and other concerned bodies should ensure early treatment accessibility, work directly on the identified factors, and adopt a multidisciplinary approach to prevent undernutrition and its consequences.