Determinants of undernutrition among older adults in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia: a community-based study

The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among older adults aged 65 years in the south Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, in 2020.

A community-based cross-sectional study.

The study was conducted from 1 October to 15 December 2020, in the South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. Study participants were selected by systematic random sampling. A pretested and structured questionnaire adapted from different literature was used to collect data. Anthropometric measurements were taken following the standard procedure.

A total of 290 older adults aged greater than or equal to 65 years of age were included in the study.

Descriptive and summary statistics were employed. Multiple logistic regression was fitted to identify determinants of undernutrition. ORs and their 95% CIs were computed to determine the level of significance.

Undernutrition was assessed by using Body Mass Index and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool.

The prevalence of undernutrition was 27.6% (95% CI 22.4 to 32.8), and 2.1% (95% CI 0.7 to 3.8) of the study participants were overweight. Based on the MNA tool, 29.7% (95% CI 24.5 to 35.2) of the study participants were undernourished and 61.7% (95% CI 55.5 to 67.2) were at risk of undernourishment. Rural residence adjusted OR (aOR)=10.3 (95% CI 3.6 to 29.4), inability to read and write aOR=3.5 (95% CI 1.6 to 7.6), decrease in food intake aOR=13.5 (95% CI 6.1 to 29.5) and household monthly income of less than US$35.6 aOR=4.3 (95% CI 1.9 to 9.4) were significantly and independently associated with undernutrition.

The level of undernutrition among older adults in the study area was high, making it an important public health burden. The determinants of undernutrition were a place of residence, educational status, food intake and monthly income.