Nutritional Status of Young Girls and Boys with Visual and Physical and Hearing Disabilities Aged Between 5 to 18 Years in Addis Ketema Sub City Addis Ababa Ethiopia
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Date
2020-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In developing countries, people with disabilities face enormous challenges. They often
experience stigma and discrimination, which makes them particularly vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition. This prevalence of malnutrition is not different in Ethiopia as a developing country. People with disabilities are largely invisible within mainstream nutrition programming.The purpose of this paper is to assess the food insecurity and nutritional Status of five to eighteen years young girls and boys with physical, visual and hearing disabilities in Addis Ketema sub city of Addis Ababa. A cross sectional survey of the nutritional status of 200 children with disabilities was undertaken using anthropometric measurements of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurements. Primary data was also collected via interviews using standard food insecurity measuring tool (HFIAS). MUAC measurement among 200 study participants showed that 50 (25%) were severely malnourished, 100 (50%) were grouped as moderately malnourished, and 50 (25%) were normal. BMI showed 23(11.5%) were
severe energy deficient, 5(2.5%) were in the category of moderate energy deficient, 80(40%) were in mild energy deficiency, 83(41.5%) were found have normal nutritional status and 9(4.5%) were overweight. Food security status determination indicated that out of 200 households, 98(49%) were food secure, 34(17%) were mildly food insecure, 41(20.5%) were moderately food insecure and 27(13.5%) were severely food insecure. Type of disability, age of the children and education of parents were found to be factors affecting nutritional status of children with disabilities in Addis ketema sub city. Food and nutrition security interventions need to focus on children at age above 5 years and polices and interventions has to be disability specific.
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Keywords
Disability, Malnutrition, Children Nutritional status, MUAC, BMI,