Abstract

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) arises as a consequence of a sudden period of food shortage and is associated with loss of a person’s body fat and wasting of their skeleton. Many nutrition are gained from foods, there are basic nutrient essential for the development of human body. Failing in human nutrition causes malnutrition. Malnutrition has great impact on children’s physical and mental growth. Malnutrition is the major cause of mortality in infants. The impact has also long term and short term effects as well as the death of individiuals due to malnutition which decreased from 2001 to 2004 at Dilla referral Hospital and also slightly at Unity Pediatric Clinic. To decrease the rate of malnutrition we must create awareness among the population to change their attitude of feeding type by giving house to house manuals on descriptions about balanced diet.

Key words: Children, Dilla referral hospital, Ethiopia, kwashiorkor, malnutrition, nutrition.