Prevalence and Risk of Acute Malnutrition among Children (6-59 months) Living IDPs Camps in Kaxda District, Mogadishu-Somalia: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Acute malnutrition (wasting) is defined as reflected a nutritionally deficient state of recent onset related to sudden food deprivation or mal-absorption utilization of nutrients which results weight loss, weight-for-height below-2SD from the WHO median value. Objective: To assess prevalence of acute malnutrition and its risk among children (6-59months) living in Internally Displaced camps of Kaxda District at Mogadishu-Somalia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from 10 th June to 15 July 2023 in children aged 6-59 months living in IDPs camps of Kaxda District at Mogadishu-Somalia. Result: The overall prevalence of acute malnutrition (wasting) among children (6-59months) living in Internally Displaced camps of Kaxda District atMogadishu, Somalia was found to be 60% (48/80), among them, severe wasting was 23.8% (19/80), moderate wasting was 36.2% (29/80) and only 40% (32/80) was in normal nutritional status.Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition among (6-59 months) children was high in this study.Therefore, effective interventions are needed to tackle this major child health problem.