Prevalence of Malnutrition among Under-Five aged Children and Methods Used to prevent and Control Unmated Nutrition Needs in Population Health of Kicukiro District, Rwanda

Globally, malnutrition remained a significant issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Rwanda. Though progress has been made, millions of people, particularly children, still suffer from malnutrition, however malnutrition information and methods o used to prevent and control in Kicukiro District remains unclear. These reasons led to Specifically to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among Under-Five aged Children, Methods Used to Prevent and Control Unmated Nutrition Needs in Population Health , and evaluate how knowledge, attitudes, and practices of KAP are associated with the increased malnutrition among under-five children attending Kicukiro Health Center. Despite global efforts to combat malnutrition, it remained a significant public health challenge. In Rwanda, malnutrition is associated with mass wasting, distended abdomen of under 5s, stunting growth, poor cognitive and physical development, with increased morbidity and mortalities. Study was mixed-methods of descriptive, cross-sectional, cohort, and triangulation designs of both surveys and Interviews. Structured questionnaires for primary data and rapid retrospective forms for secondary data for the last 5 years data collection using, a 235 sample sizes, in survey, and KIIs and FGDs guides used interviews to get value data numbers. The study opined, that only female next of kin/guardians participated in the stated healthcare of the under children to seek health care in the study area, (102) 43.4%, aged 25 to 35 with zero male community participation. The occupation profile of the respondents, majority lacked employment (126) 53.6 %, and only a few, (45) 19.1%, were employed guardians / next of under 5s with RR (0.2, 0.3) and OD (1.0) income. Most under 5s sex affected by malnutrition was female (123), 52.3%, followed closely by, (112), 47.7% male gender. The prevalence of malnutrition among under 5s was only 12. 8 % (30) in the population health, with RR (0.34. 0.43) due Global partnership supply of fortified food and increased health education on under 5s nutrition by MOH. Food insecurity at the household level is associated with the main supply of inadequate nutrition with RR (0.56., 2.1) and (OD 3.04) signifying the need to improve food security at the household level to mediate a quality long-lasting intervention malnutrition in society. The study concludes that malnutrition among under-five children remains a public health challenge due to limited household access to adequate dietary food. The study recommends diversifying and increasing the supply of fortified foods through global partnerships and coordinated efforts by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to address food insecurity and support nutrition programs for under-five children. Keywords: malnutrition under 5yrs children, stunting under nutrition global partnership, community participation.