Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Epilepsy is among common neurologic disabilities that affect nutrition. There are
different factors that affect the complex interaction between the presence of epilepsy and
malnutrition. Studies from different country showed epilepsy increase magnitude malnutrition
directly or indirectly but in our country up to my knowledge there is no study. Knowing the
magnitude malnutrition both (wasting and stunting) and the factor that associate with it among
epileptic patient would be good to prevent and promote child growth to achieve their full
potential.
Objective: The overall aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of malnutrition and
associated factors among epileptic children who had follow up at Gondar University
comprehensive and specialized hospital (GUSCH) neurology follow up clinic.
Methods: Hospital based Prospective cross sectional study was conducted in 239 children age
3month-18 years who have follow up at GUCSH from July 01/2020 to September 30/2021.
Participants were taken sequentially until the sample size achieved. A pretested and structured
questionnaire containing sociodemographic, clinical and anthropometry parameters were used
for data collection which was collected manually by residents, general practitioner and interns.
Malnutrition was defined using WHO Z score. The collected data was entered on Microsoft
excel spreadsheet then exported to STATA version 15.1 on which coded and checked for
completeness and analyzed. Descriptive statistics frequency, mean and median used to present
the data. Binary logistic regression performed and variable with P-value less than 0.2 exported
into Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the determinant of malnutrition among
epileptic children. Finally, variables with P-values < 0.05 in the multivariate logistic regression
model were taken as statistically significant. The Hosmer-Lemeshow Model fitness checked
(p=0.2208).
Result: A total of 239 epileptic patients, on neurology follow-up clinic, were included in the
study. The mean age of participant was 9.38 years with the confidence interval (8.80-9.97). The
overall prevalence of malnutrition was 141(59%) of which stunting and wasting accounted for
89(37.24%) and 91(38.08%) respectively. About 39(16.32%) of the patient had both wasting and
stunting. Female sex of a child, father’s educational level, presence of motor developmental
delay and gum hypertrophy were significantly associated with malnutrition in epileptic children.
Conclusion and recommendation: Magnitude of malnutrition was significantly high among
epileptic children in this study and identified associated factors were female sex, father’s level of
education, presence of motor delay and gum hypertrophy. Therefore, the influence of these
factors should be considered to develop strategies for reducing malnutrition among this
population.
Key words: Malnutrition, Epilepsy, Children ,Ethiopia
