Ferede Yohannes Mulu, Derso Terefe, Sisay Mekonnen
Department of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Nutr. 2022 May 30;8(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40795-022-00532-9.
In Ethiopia, the proportion of older adults is steadily increasing. This rapidly growing older adult population may increase the burden of malnutrition. However, malnutrition among older adults, particularly those living in rural areas, is regularly underrecognized and/or ignored. There have been no studies among older adults in the Metu district that have used the Min nutritional assessment (MNA). As a result, the purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among older adults in Metu district, Southwest Ethiopia.
A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2021 in Metu district. A multi-stage stratified sampling technique was employed. The nutritional status of the older adults was measured by MNA. Data from 616 older adults (308 from urban and 308 from rural residences) was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with malnutrition.
According to this study, the overall prevalence of malnutrition in Metu district was 17.5% (95% CI: 14.4%-20.7%). The prevalence of malnutrition in urban and rural residences was 9.9% and 25.2%, respectively. In the overall study, insomnia (AOR: 2.0, 95%CI: 1.1-3.7), residence (AOR: 3.47, 95%CI: 1.8-6.5), and smoking (AOR: 3.7, 95%CI: 2.1-6.7) were associated with malnutrition. In urban residences, depression (AOR: 3.4, 95%CI: 1.2-9.5), dietary diversity score (DDS) (AOR: 3.5, 95%CI: 1.2-10.0), and eating problems (AOR: 2.8, 95%CI: 1.1-7.3) were associated with malnutrition. In rural residence, age (AOR:3.8; 95%CI: 1.2-11), sex (AOR:2.2,95%CI:1.0-4.8), DDS (AOR:5.4,95%CI:2.2-13.3), depression (AOR: 4.6,95%CI:2.2-9.2), and chronic disease (AOR: 3.8 95%CI: 1.8-8.2) were associated with malnutrition.
Malnutrition was more prevalent among older adults living in rural areas than in urban areas. In the overall study, insomnia, residence, and smoking were significantly associated with malnutrition. DDS, depression, and eating difficulties were significantly associated with malnutrition among older adults living in urban areas, whereas sex, age, depression, chronic disease, and dietary diversity were factors influencing malnutrition in rural areas. Strengthening strategies aimed at addressing nutrition policy, as well as paying attention to the nutritional needs of the older adult population, can help to improve the health and quality of life of older adults.
在埃塞俄比亚，老年人的比例正在稳步上升。这一迅速增长的老年人口可能会增加营养不良的负担。然而，老年人中的营养不良，尤其是农村地区的老年人，常常未得到充分认识和/或被忽视。在梅图地区的老年人中，尚未有研究使用微型营养评定法（MNA）。因此，本研究的目的是确定埃塞俄比亚西南部梅图地区老年人中营养不良的患病率及其相关因素。
2021年5月至6月在梅图地区开展了一项基于社区的比较横断面研究。采用多阶段分层抽样技术。通过微型营养评定法测量老年人的营养状况。通过面对面访谈，使用结构化问卷收集了616名老年人（308名来自城市，308名来自农村）的数据。进行了双变量和多变量逻辑回归分析，以确定与营养不良相关的因素。
根据本研究，梅图地区营养不良的总体患病率为17.5%（95%置信区间：14.4%-20.7%）。城市和农村地区的营养不良患病率分别为9.9%和25.2%。在整个研究中，失眠（比值比：2.0，95%置信区间：1.1-3.7）、居住地区（比值比：3.47，95%置信区间：1.8-6.5）和吸烟（比值比：3.7，95%置信区间：2.1-6.7）与营养不良有关。在城市地区，抑郁（比值比：3.4，95%置信区间：1.2-9.5）、饮食多样性评分（DDS）（比值比：3.5，95%置信区间：1.2-10.0）和饮食问题（比值比：2.8，95%置信区间：1.1-7.3）与营养不良有关。在农村地区，年龄（比值比：3.8；95%置信区间：1.2-11）、性别（比值比：2.2，95%置信区间：1.0-4.8）、饮食多样性评分（比值比：5.4，95%置信区间：2.2-13.3）、抑郁（比值比：4.6，95%置信区间：2.2-9.2）和慢性病（比值比：3.8，95%置信区间：1.8-8.2）与营养不良有关。
农村地区老年人的营养不良比城市地区更为普遍。在整个研究中，失眠、居住地区和吸烟与营养不良显著相关。饮食多样性评分、抑郁和饮食困难与城市地区老年人的营养不良显著相关，而性别、年龄、抑郁、慢性病和饮食多样性是影响农村地区营养不良的因素。加强旨在解决营养政策的策略，并关注老年人口的营养需求，有助于改善老年人的健康和生活质量。
