Risk Factors for Severe Acute Malnutrition in Children Below Five Years of Age in a Tertiary Care Hospital of District Poonch, Azad Kashmir

Background:In low-resource environments, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity in children under five. The objective of the present research was to identify and assess the risk factors for severe acute malnutrition in children under five. Methodology:This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalakot, a tertiary care hospital located in District Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The study was conducted over one year, from 1st April 2022 to 30th March 2023. A total of 260 children diagnosed with SAM based on WHO criteria were included. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, feeding practices, health-related factors, maternal status, and household conditions were collected using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis involved chi-square, and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results:Children with SAM were more likely to belong to low-income families (p = 0.0001), have larger households (p = 0.0003), live in rural areas (p = 0.0002), and reside in joint family systems (p = 0.0029). Health-related factors, including incomplete immunization (p = 0.0001), recent diarrhea (p = 0.0001), and low birth weight (p = 0.0001), were also linked. Maternal illiteracy (p = 0.0001), inadequate antenatal care (p = 0.0001), and maternal malnutrition (p = 0.0001). Conclusion:SAM is strongly associated with inadequate nutrition, maternal and household factors, and preventable illnesses. Targeted community-level interventions are urgently needed.