Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards prevention of malnutrition among caretakers of children below five years at Kikuube Health Centre IV, Kikuube District. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71020/bt49h896Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude and Practices, Prevention of malnutrition, Caretakers of children below five years, Kikuube Health Centre IVAbstract
Background:
The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards the prevention of malnutrition among caregivers of children below five years at Kikuube Health Centre IV, Kikuube District.
Methodology:
A cross-sectional retrospective study where Quantitative methods. Simple random sampling was used to select 50 respondents/caretakers from the list developed from village health team registers.
Results:
Majority (54%) attained only primary education, (92%) earn less than 50,000 shillings a month, (56%) said food which is not balanced caused malnutrition, (40%) talked of pale hair as a major sign of malnutrition, (84%) were aware that breast milk is the main source of food for children below six months 76% (38/50) said they always initiate breast feeding immediately after birth 68% (34/50) of the respondents practiced exclusive breast feeding for complete six months 60% (30/50) feed their children three times a day, 96% of the respondents agreed that it’s important for children suffering from malnutrition to be taken to the health center for management, 68% of the care takers agreed that children should be breast fed exclusively for the first six months.
Conclusions:Caregivers had knowledge of the causes of malnutrition, and this is good in such a way that caregivers will do what is within their means to prevent it. Caregivers, especially mothers, demonstrated a satisfactory practice of breastfeeding. Caregivers had generally positive attitudes towards the desired practices in the prevention of malnutrition. The majority of caregivers had positive beliefs towards breastfeeding, delivery from.
Recommendations:There should be internal strategies and policies developed by the government to change the caretaker’s mindset about the causes and effects of childhood malnutrition.
References
1. HMIS. (2017). This has resulted in stunted growth, underweight, mortality, and other nutrition disorders, including physical disability. This also interferes with the productive time of caregivers in caring for the sick, hindering the social and economic growth of the community.
2. Kumar et al. (2019). Caregivers’ beliefs and attitudes towards infant feeding practices influence their likelihood of adopting optimal practices.
3. Kumar et al. (2019). Cultural taboos around certain foods can lead to inadequate dietary diversity and malnutrition.
4. Olang'o et al. (2018). Overreliance on bottle feeding and formula milk can lead to malnutrition and stunting in children.
5. Oosthuizen. (2019). When there is a deficiency in the amount and nutritional value of the food consumed, the growth pattern of a child becomes disrupted owing to nutrient deficiencies. Malnutrition in hospitalized children at a tertiary hospital in South Africa.
6. Puet et al. (2019). Highlighted the simultaneous occurrence of several risk factors, as it may aggravate the risk of malnutrition.
7. UMNAP. (2017). Uganda has ratified a range of international conventions and committed itself to ending hunger and malnutrition.
8. WHO. (2017). Malnutrition remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity among children under five years, especially in developing countries. 155million children under the age of 5years were suffering from stunting, while 41million were overweight or obese.
9. WHO. (2018). Children with malnutrition may exhibit signs such as stunting, wasting, underweight, and macronutrient deficiencies.
10. WHO. (2020). Infants should be breastfed on demand, that is, as often as the child wants, day and night.
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