Determinants of the recrudescence of acute malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months, study conducted in the Wanierukula/Tshopo rural health zone, Democratic Republic of Congo]
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Abstract
Malnutrition in all its forms continues to affect several regions of the world in general, and certain African countries in particular. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to data published in 2023 by the Tshopo Provincial Health Department, more than 1940 cases of recrudescence of malnutrition have been recorded in the city of Tshopo. This descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study, based on a structured direct interview using a pre-established questionnaire, was carried out among 777 mothers of children over a three-month period, from September 24 to December 24, 2024. Its aim was to determine the factors most responsible for the resurgence of acute malnutrition in children aged between 6 and 59 months. The results of this study showed that the availability of food on the market, i.e. 79.5%, mothers' age ≥ 25 years, i.e. 68.9%, lack of income-generating activity, i.e. 69.8%, unavailability of financial means, i.e. 68.2%, low monthly household income are determining factors in acute malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months in the Wanierukula health zone (p < 0.05 significant at the conventional threshold of 5%). Concrete action must be taken to reduce the rate of malnutrition in the city of Tshopo.
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