Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Globally 144 million children under the age of five were stunted, 47 million were wasted,
and 38 million were overweight and1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, while 462 million are
underweight. People living in humanitarian crisis areas such as refugee and IDP camps are particularly
vulnerable groups accounting the highest portion of this numbers. However, there is limited information
on the nutritional status and determinants factors of malnutrition among refugee and IDP camps in
developing countries like Ethiopia, particularly in Debark refugee camp.
Objective: To assess nutritional status and associated factors using selected biochemical parameters
among IDPs living in Debark refugee camp, North, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia.
Method and materials: Cross-sectional study was conducted with a systematic random sampling
technique from March 09 to May 13, 2022. Sociodemographic and other variables were collected by
trained data collectors using structured questionnaires in face-to-face interviews. Anthropometric
measures such as mid-upper arm circumference), height, and weight were measured. Five ml of venous
blood was collected for biochemical parameter assessment from children and adults while three ml was
taken from infants. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to
measure the association between malnutrition and associated factors. A P value of < 0.05 was considered
statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of malnutrition in Debark refugee camp was 44% (n=135) (95% CI:
38.7, 49.8). Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency among the IDPs were 44% and 21.8% respectively.
Low dietary diversity (AOR= 3.7, 95% CI: 1.4, 9.9), low literacy (AOR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.1, 8.2), and
high perceived stress (AOR=3.5, 1.04, 11.6) diarrheal disease (AOR=3.7, 95% CI; 1.4, 9.8), and low
concentrations of albumin (AOR= 3.1, 95% CI:1.1, 8.5), folic acid (AOR, =3.195 %CI: 1.07,9.0), and
total protein (AOR=7.25, 95% 2.7, 19.3) were determinant factor of malnutrition among IDPs in Debark
refugee camp.
Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of malnutrition among IDPs in Debark refugee
camp was high public health problem. In addition the prevalence of micronutrients deficiency were also
high. Therefore, periodic nutritional assessment, education with regard to effective personal &
environmental sanitary practice, provision of diversified food supplementation and focused policies and
strategies towards IDPs particularly in conflict areas should be planned to alleviate problems associated
with malnutrition.
