Child care practices and nutritional status of children aged 0-2 years in Thika, Kenya

Kamau-Thuita, F; Omwega, AM; Muita, J W G

doi:10.4314/eamj.v79i10.8814

Cited by 19 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…Much of the information provided on breast-feeding at the time of the study was in written form, therefore, maternal illiteracy, particularly in pregnant adolescents was an important factor related to lack of knowledge. A recent Kenyan study has emphasised that improved maternal knowledge can translate into better child care practices (Kamau-Thuita et al, 2002). In Mangochi, Malawi, Vaahtera et al (2001) reported a positive association between maternal education and prolonged breastfeeding.…”

Section: Mean W/a Z-scorementioning

confidence: 99%

Breast and complementary feeding practices in relation to morbidity and growth in Malawian infants

2005

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Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare growth, morbidity incidence and risk factors for undernutrition between infants receiving complementary feeding early, before 3 months of age, with those receiving complementary foods after 3 months in a poor rural Malawian community. Methods: A cohort of babies was enrolled at birth for follow-up to 12 months of age. Weight, length, morbidity and feeding patterns were recorded at 4 weekly intervals from birth to 52 weeks. Results: Mean age at introduction of water was 2.5 months (range 0-11.8), complementary foods 3.4 months (range, 1.0-10.7) and solids 4.5 months (range 1.2-13.8). Over 40% of infants had received complementary foods by 2 months and 65% by 3 months. The proportion of exclusively breast-fed infants, which included those receiving supplemental water, was 13% at 4 months, 6.3% at 5 months and 1.5% at 6 months. Infants with early complementary feeding had lower weight for age at 3 and 6 months (Po0.05), and at 9 months (P ¼ 0.07) and at 2 months they were approximately 200 g lighter. Early complementary feeding was significantly associated with increased risk for respiratory infection (Po0.05), and marginally increased risk for eye infection and episodes of malaria. Maternal illiteracy was associated with early complementary feeding (OR ¼ 2.1, 95% CI 1.3, 3.2), while later complementary feeding was associated with reduced infant morbidity and improved growth. Conclusion: Breast-feeding promotion programmes should target illiterate women. Greater emphasis is required to improve complementary feeding practices.

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Section: Mean W/a Z-scorementioning

confidence: 99%

Breast and complementary feeding practices in relation to morbidity and growth in Malawian infants

2005

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“…Therefore, the mother's knowledge about child care influences the nature and quality of care that is given to the child. [1] Several studies have revealed that the mothers’ level of education has a positive impact on her knowledge and how she deals with child health care issues. [2–13] Our experience in pediatric practice has revealed significant gaps pertaining to child health issues in the mothers’ knowledge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mothers′ knowledge of child health matters: Are we doing enough?

Al-Ayed¹

2010

J Fam Community Med

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Background:Child care is mostly the responsibility of mothers. Several studies have revealed that the mothers’ education has a positive impact on their knowledge and practice in child health matters.Objectives:The study was undertaken to assess the level of mothers’ knowledge on certain aspects of child health care and whether there is any correlation between their level of knowledge and the number of years of formal education they have had.Materials and Methods:A two-part questionnaire was distributed. The first part comprised information about mother's nationality, age, work, level of education and number of children, in addition to sources of health information and the role of school education in child health matters. The second part contained 40 statements about different aspects of child health matters. A structured interview with the mothers who attended with their children at the pediatric outpatient clinic of King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh during July and August 2007, was conducted by a trained non-medical research assistant using the items and statements of the questionnaire as a base. A knowledge score was calculated from the number of correct answers. The maximum score was 40. An arbitrary cut-off score of 25 was considered satisfactory.Results:Three-hundred-seventy-three questionnaires were completed. The mean score of the total sample was 25 (out of 40) and the minimum score obtained was 14, and the maximum 36. Fifty-eight percent scored 25 or more. Scrutiny of individual items on the questionnaire revealed significant and serious gaps in mother's knowledge. No statistically significant correlation was evident between mothers’ knowledge of child health related matters and level of education, age, or number of children.Conclusion:Mothers’ knowledge of child health related matters is deficient. At present, knowledge on child health matters taught in schools in the Kingdom is inadequate. Health care institutions play a limited role in health education. There should be proper effective practical means of disseminating information on child health matters among mothers in our community.

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“…Many studies confirmed that economic conditions influ ence the quality and quantity of consumed foods and consequently can be a key factor in the nutritional sta tus of people (12)(13)(14). In addition, in the case of chil dren, the level of their parent education is an important factor which can alter their nutritional status and growth (15)(16)(17). However, these relationships have not been confirmed in Nepal.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Economic Status and Education Level on the Height and Weight of Community Adolescents in Nepal

Joshi

Rikimaru

Pandey³

2005

Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, J Nutr Sci Vit

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SummaryThere is scarce information on the relative importance of socio-economic fac tors in determining the adolescent anthropometric measurements. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of economic status, education level, and food consumption on the height and weight of community adolescents in Nepal. The study was done in the communities of the Kathmandu Valley area in Nepal. All together 426 unmarried adoles cent girls aged 14-19y were selected, The adolescents were interviewed regarding socio economic background (education, occupation and property possessions) and frequency of foods consumption. Height and weight were determined and BMI was calculated. Z-scores of height-for-age and weight-for-age were calculated based on the WHO/NCHS standard to avoid bias by age. The adolescents participating in the survey were categorized into three groups using the various indicators of economic status: Low Economic Status (LES) group, Middle Economic Status (MES) group and High Economic Status (HES) group. The Z-scores of height and weight were significantly lower in the LES group than in the MES and HES groups (p<0.05). The Z-score of height was significantly increased with education level even under the condition of controlling economic level (p<0.05). Since the frequency of milk consumption was significantly related not only with height (p<0.05), but also with economic (X2=31.6, df=4, p<0.001) and education levels (X2=22.4, df=6, p<0.01), the increased height in the groups of the better economic status or the better education level was interpreted to be due to the outcome of the higher frequency of milk consumption. This study indicated that education was a more important factor affecting the height of the ado lescents via improved food habits even under adverse economic conditions.

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Child care practices and nutritional status of children aged 0-2 years in Thika, Kenya

Cited by 19 publications

References 0 publications

Breast and complementary feeding practices in relation to morbidity and growth in Malawian infants

Breast and complementary feeding practices in relation to morbidity and growth in Malawian infants

Mothers′ knowledge of child health matters: Are we doing enough?

Effects of Economic Status and Education Level on the Height and Weight of Community Adolescents in Nepal

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