Abstract
Malnutrition among children below the age of five remains a critical public health threat
in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas that experience environmental and socioeconomic
challenges. The study revolved around establishing the effect of the
socioeconomic status of parents on the proclivity of malnutrition among children aged
five years and less, determining the relationship between maternal educational levels
and the nutritional condition of children, ascertaining the impact of household food
security on malnutrition, and evaluating the influence of environmental factors that
promote the genesis and prevalence of malnutrition among children under the age of
five. The research methodology was based on collecting secondary data from the
health records of Maphisa District Hospital in Matobo District, Matabeleland South
Province, Zimbabwe. A sample of 110 child nutrition health records was collected for
descriptive and inferential analysis. The recruitment criteria included children under
five years of age who were admitted to Maphisa District Hospital for treatment of
malnutrition. Systematic random sampling was used to select records with a bias over
malnutrition among children. Research results indicate that maternal age, maternal
educational level, and maternal employment status were statistically insignificant as
determinants of the prevalence of malnutrition. The outcome of the HIV test was
positively correlated with the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 5 years
and below. A quantitative, retrospective, cross-sectional study design, utilising
secondary data from maternal and nutritional records, can help identify the key factors
contributing to malnutrition in this region. By analysing correlations in available data,
the study provides insights into how socio-economic, environmental and health-related
variables converge to affect child malnutrition outcomes in Matobo. The findings were
crucial for informing local health policies and interventions aimed at addressing the
malnutrition burden and improving child health in the district. Malnutrition is prevalent
among children aged 9.04 to 25.625 months, which suggests the failure to adhere to
the best standards regarding breastfeeding. Maternal education, age and employment
status, were statistically insignificant in influencing the prevalence of malnutrition
among children under five years of age. The presence of comorbidities such as HIV
was found to have a statistically insignificant effect on the prevalence of malnutrition
amongst children less than five years of age.