MAGNITUDE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN WITH EPILEPTIC VISITING FOLLOW UP AT GONDAR UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2021.

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