Mohammed Fozi, Musa Ibsa, Fage Sagni Girma, Tura Abera Kenay, Weldegebreal Fitsum
Hararghe Catholic Secretariat, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Nutr Metab Insights. 2021 Mar 30;14:11786388211006445. doi: 10.1177/11786388211006445. eCollection 2021.
Although orphans are at increased risk of undernutrition, studies assessing prevalence of undernutrition are limited to orphans residing with their relatives or on street. This study was conducted to assess magnitude of undernutrition and its associated factors among institutionalized school-age orphans in Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia.
An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among all school-age (6-12 years) orphans living in all orphan centers in Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected by using a structured pretested questionnaire supplemented with anthropometric measurements. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 22. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with undernutrition. Statistical significance was declared at -value <.05.
A total of 265 orphans residing in all orphan centers in the region were included. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 15.8% (95% CI: 11.9, 20.7), 10.9% (95% CI: 7.7, 15.3), and 8.7% (95% CI: 4.3, 10.5), respectively. Staying in orphan center for 6 to 10 years (AOR = 6.2; 95% CI: 2.6, 15.10), having recent illness (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 10.4), and being aged 10 to 12 years (AOR = 11.2; 95% CI: 3.5, 35.4) were significantly associated with stunting whereas having recent illness (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.4, 7.3) and being aged 6 to 7 years (AOR: 10.4; 95% CI: 3.2, 33.6) were significantly associated with wasting. Underweight was more likely (AOR: 8.9; 95% CI: 2.7, 29.5 among children with recent illness.
Almost 1 in 6, 1 in 9, and 1 in 11 institutionalized school-age orphans in Harari Regional State were stunted, wasted, and underweight respectively. Younger children and those with recent illness were more likely to be undernourished. Underlying reasons for undernutrition among orphans being cared in orphan centers should be further explored.
尽管孤儿面临营养不良风险增加，但评估营养不良患病率的研究仅限于与亲属同住或流落街头的孤儿。本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚东部哈勒尔地区州福利院中适龄孤儿的营养不良程度及其相关因素。
在埃塞俄比亚东部哈勒尔地区州所有孤儿中心居住的所有适龄（6 - 12岁）孤儿中开展了一项基于机构的横断面研究。通过使用经过预测试的结构化问卷并辅以人体测量数据来收集数据。数据使用EpiData 3.1录入，并使用SPSS 22进行分析。采用逻辑回归模型来确定与营养不良相关的因素。当P值 <.05时具有统计学意义。
该地区所有孤儿中心的265名孤儿被纳入研究。发育迟缓、消瘦和体重不足的患病率分别为15.8%（95%置信区间：11.9，20.7）、10.9%（95%置信区间：7.7，15.3）和8.7%（95%置信区间：4.3，10.5）。在孤儿中心居住6至10年（比值比 = 6.2；95%置信区间：2.6，15.10）、近期患病（比值比 = 3.9；95%置信区间：1.4，10.4）以及年龄在10至12岁（比值比 = 11.2；95%置信区间：3.5，35.4）与发育迟缓显著相关，而近期患病（比值比 = 4.3；95%置信区间：1.4，7.3）以及年龄在6至7岁（比值比：10.4；95%置信区间：3.2，33.6）与消瘦显著相关。近期患病的儿童体重不足的可能性更大（比值比：8.9；95%置信区间：2.7，29.5）。
哈勒尔地区州福利院中，每6名适龄孤儿中约有1名发育迟缓，每9名中有1名消瘦，每11名中有1名体重不足。年龄较小的儿童和近期患病的儿童更易营养不良。应进一步探究福利院中被照料孤儿营养不良的潜在原因。
