Several national reports have indicated poor nutritional status among children from Western Uganda where millet porridge is a predominant complementary food. However, little is known about the nutritional status of 7–36 months old children from millet consuming communities of Western Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bujenje County of Masindi District. A total of 636 children from 23 villages within Bwijanga and Budongo sub counties were randomly selected. Anthropometric measurements of children were taken. Data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of children’s households, their dietary practices and morbidity patterns was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Emergency Nutritional Assessment (ENA) Software Version 2010 were used for analysing data. The relationship between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of households and children’s nutritional status was determined using Chi-square tests. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the association between children’s nutritional status and the amount of millet porridge consumed. A p-value of < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. A proportion of 30.5% children were stunted, 11.6% underweight and 7.4% wasted. Underweight and wasting were significantly high in Budongo sub county at p = 0.044 and p = 0.005 respectively. Stunting and underweight were highest between 12 and 23 months at p = 0.005 and 0.020 respectively. Although millet porridges formed the bulk of children’s meals, they could only cater for < 60% of the recommended daily nutrient intake. Children with diarrhoea were 1.4 and 2 times likely to become stunted and underweight at p = 0.025 and 0.007 respectively. Feeding practices for children with diarrhoea were contrary to World Health Organisation’s recommendations in more than 50% of the studied children. There was a significant association between Height-for-Age Z scores, Weight-for-Height Z scores and the amount of millet porridge consumed by children (r = − 0.20, p < 0.001 and r = 0.14, p < 0.001 respectively). Results showed slightly higher percentages of stunted, underweight and wasted children compared to national figures. This was attributed to high incidences of diarrhoea and inadequate feeding practices especially for children 12–36 months old.

中文翻译：

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乌干达西部马辛迪区小米消费社区 7-36 个月大儿童的营养状况


一些国家报告表明，乌干达西部儿童的营养状况不佳，那里的主要辅食是小米粥。然而，人们对乌干达西部小米消费社区 7-36 个月大儿童的营养状况知之甚少。在马辛迪区的布杰杰县进行了一项横断面研究。随机抽取了来自布维扬加县和布东戈县 23 个村庄的 636 名儿童。对儿童进行人体测量。使用自填问卷收集有关儿童家庭的人口和社会经济特征、饮食习惯和发病模式的数据。使用社会科学统计软件包 (SPSS) 第 20 版和紧急营养评估 (ENA) 软件 2010 版来分析数据。使用卡方检验确定家庭的人口和社会经济特征与儿童营养状况之间的关系。皮尔逊相关系数用于确定儿童营养状况与小米粥摄入量之间的关联。 p 值 < 0.05 表示有统计学意义。 30.5% 的儿童发育迟缓，11.6% 的儿童体重不足，7.4% 的儿童消瘦。布东戈县的体重不足和消瘦率显着较高，分别为 p = 0.044 和 p = 0.005。发育迟缓和体重不足在 12 个月至 23 个月期间最高，分别为 p = 0.005 和 0.020。尽管小米粥是儿童膳食的主体，但它们只能满足每日推荐营养素摄入量的<60%。腹泻儿童发育迟缓和体重不足的可能性分别是 1.4 倍和 2 倍，p = 0.025 和 0.007。 在超过 50% 的研究儿童中，腹泻儿童的喂养方式与世界卫生组织的建议相反。年龄别身高 Z 评分、身高体重 Z 评分与儿童食用小米粥的量之间存在显着相关性（分别为 r = − 0.20，p < 0.001 和 r = 0.14，p < 0.001）。结果显示，与全国数据相比，发育迟缓、体重不足和消瘦儿童的比例略高。这是由于腹泻发生率高和喂养不当，尤其是 12-36 个月大的儿童。