Prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among children below 5 years attending Kitagata hospital, Sheema district

World over, malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems. In developing countries especially, Sub-Saharan Africa malnutrition has continued to affect children. In Uganda, 38% are stunted, 6% wasted and 16% underweight mostly affecting Northern Region with 40% and Southwestern region, 50% of the children are malnourished. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition among children below 5 years attending to KITAGATA HOSPITAL in Sheema district. A cross-sectional study design was used. The study employed a quantitative approach of data collection and analysis. The data was analyzed using Statistical package for social scientists (SPSS. Version 16.0). In this study, 95 children and their mothers participated with an overall response rate of 95%. Prevalence of stunting was 49%; prevalence of wasting was 27.3% while the prevalence of underweight was 44.2%. Child HIV status [(coef:1.292, CI:0.13,-2.46, P=0.030)], Child age [(coef:0.044, CI:0.02,-0.07, P=0.002)], Presenting complaint [(coef:0.002, CI:0.51,-2.31, P=0.002)] Occupation [(coef:0.638, CI:0.24,-1.03, P=0.002)] , Number of Household members [(coef-1.092, CI:-2.06,-0.12, P=0.028)] Marital status [(coef:-1.515, CI: -2.84,-0.19, P=0.026)] Food quality [(coef:1.055, CI:0.44,-1.67, P=0.001)] were the significant factors associated with malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition in children under five attending to Kitagata General Hospital was 39%. Child HIV status, Child age, presenting complaint, Caretaker occupation, Number of household members, Marital status, and Food quality were significantly associated with malnutrition. Keywords: Malnutrition; Prevalence; Children under five; Factors associated; Kitagata Hospital