Abstract: Introduction: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) results from deficiency of proteins and energy. Objective: This study sought to determine the influence of medical factors on PEM in children below five years old at KNH. Method: 118 children under five years old plus their biological mothers participated in this cross-sectional quantitative study. Questionnaires were administered to the biological mothers of the children and anthropometric measurements were taken from the children. Multi-stage sampling was used to select eligible children plus their biological mothers. Analysis of data was done using SPSS version 16. Results: The prevalence of underweight was 59.3%, stunting 53.3% and wasting 33.9% among children aged 0 to 59 months in KNH. Medical factors that predisposed to PEM were: illness, immunization status, dietary care during illness time and health seeking behavior. Conclusion: Medical factors greatly influenced nutritional status of children under five years old. Recommendations: Health education should be enhanced in the hospital settings on importance of seeking medical care in case of an illness and importance of adequate feeding of the child during illness.Abstract: Introduction: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) results from deficiency of proteins and energy. Objective: This study sought to determine the influence of medical factors on PEM in children below five years old at KNH. Method: 118 children under five years old plus their biological mothers participated in this cross-sectional quantitative study. Q...Show More
