Abstract:
Background: Malnutrition and disability are interconnected in countries suffering from high levels of malnutrition. Individuals with disability are prone to malnutrition due to different factors. The relationship between disability and malnutrition is under research in developing countries including Ethiopia.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of chronic energy deficiency and associated factors among disabled adults in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on randomly selected 411 disabled adults from September 06-November 06/2021. Both bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with chronic energy deficiency. All variables with p<0.25 in the bi-variable binary logistic regression analysis were taken to further analysis to multi-variable binary logistic regression. In multivariable binary logistic regression analysis variables with a p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Both Crude Odds Ratios and Adjusted Odd Ratios were computed to determine the strength of association.
Results: The overall prevalence of chronic energy deficiency was 35.8%. Adults with multiple disability (AOR=3.68,95%CI:1.25-10.82), having inadequate DDS (AOR=1.91,95% CI:1.07-3.41), severe food insecurity (AOR=4.73,95%CI:1.50-15.00) and moderate food insecurity (AOR=2.92,95%CI:1.22-7.04) were statistically significant with chronic energy deficiency.
Conclusion: The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency among adults living with disability was high as compared to the adult age groups studied through EDHS, 2016. Multiple disabled, inadequate dietary diversity and moderately and severely food insecurity were factors associated with chronic energy deficiency of disabled adults. To improve the nutritional status of disabled persons, appropriate interventional programs related to food access and dietary diversification were required.
Keywords: Chronic energy deficiency, disability, adult