Relationship between climatic variability and malnutrition among children under five years in Nakaseke and Nakasongola Districts of Uganda

Gilbert Habaasa, Makerere University

This study seeks to investigate a relationship between climate variability and malnutrition among children under five years in Nakaseke and Nakasongola Districts. Its specific objectives include; to find out a relationship between malnutrition of under fives and weather changes, to find out the symptoms of malnutrition among infants in the pastoral and crop communities, to assess relationships between crop failure and malnutrition, low milk production and malnutrition, diarrhea and seasonal weather variability. Secondary data source from the climate variability project implemented by AFRII will be used. Data collection will take two months in the cattle corridors of the two districts among 3600 households. Focus Group Discussions will be done to supplement data from survey questionnaires. Preliminary results indicate a significant relationship between crop failure, low milk production,diarrhea and malnutrition of children. Interesting results are expected to be found out and several recommendations shall be generated.