Table 2 Predictors of severe acute malnutrition among children 6 to 59 months visiting Outpatient Therapeutic Care Centers (n = 398)a
Characteristics | Unadjusted odds ratios | 95% CI | P value | Adjusted odds ratios | 95% CI | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Family size | ||||||
1–5 member/s (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
5 or more members | 3.07 | (1.24–7.64) | 0.02 | 3.96 | (1.23–12.71) | 0.02 |
Number of children | ||||||
1–2 (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
3 or more | 3.46 | (1.47–8.10) | 0.004 | 4.92 | (0.24–100.1) | 0.30 |
Ethnicity | ||||||
Relatively advantaged (Brahmin/Chhetri) (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
Relatively disadvantaged (Janajati/Muslims) | 4.35 | (0.92–20.47) | 0.06 | 1.20 | (0.12–12.23) | 0.88 |
Madhesi and other unidentified | 9.61 | (2.10–43.98) | < 0.01 | 3.18 | (0.30–33.84) | 0.34 |
Toilet facility | ||||||
Yes (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
No | 4.45 | (1.88–10.54) | < 0.00 | 1.54 | (0.48–4.96) | 0.47 |
Kitchen garden | ||||||
Yes (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
No | 3.17 | (1.28–7.90) | < 0.01 | 2.56 | (0.82–8.00) | 0.11 |
Food Insecurity | ||||||
Food secure (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
Mildly food insecure | 2.44 | (0.62–9.59) | 0.20 | 1.30 | (0.26–6.53) | 0.75 |
Moderate food insecure | 3.09 | (0.97–9.83) | 0.06 | 0.58 | (0.13–2.52) | 0.46 |
Severely food insecure | 5.40 | (1.86–15.72) | < 0.01 | 4.04 | (1.12–14.61) | 0.03 |
Child factors | ||||||
Child age (months) | ||||||
6–12 | 4.82 | (1.25–18.64) | 0.02 | 12.10 | (2.06–71.09) | < 0.01 |
12–23 | 5.15 | (1.42–18.65) | < 0.01 | 6.61 | (1.24–35.25) | 0.03 |
24–59 (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
Birth Order | ||||||
1 (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
2 | 3.15 | (0.93–10.69) | 0.066 | 4.09 | (0.99–16.87) | 0.05 |
3 or more | 6.30 | (1.95–20.39) | < 0.01 | 0.64 | (0.03–15.14) | 0.78 |
Maternal factors | ||||||
Mother’s education | ||||||
No education | 4.89 | (0.99–24.27) | 0.05 | 0.34 | (0.026–4.59) | 0.42 |
Literate | 7.13 | (1.38–36.82) | 0.02 | 0.57 | (0.04–7.80) | 0.68 |
Primary | 4.10 | (0.77–21.80) | 0.10 | 0.91 | (0.08–10.18) | 0.94 |
Secondary | 1.25 | (0.21–7.64) | 0.81 | 0.54 | (0.052–5.61) | 0.61 |
Higher (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
Exclusive breastfeeding | ||||||
Yes (Ref) | 1 | 1 | ||||
No | 0.19 | (0.043–0.82) | 0.03 | 0.38 | (0.070–2.03) | 0.26 |