TITLE:
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Caregivers of Children 0 - 23 Months in Eastern and Central Uganda
AUTHORS:
Jacent Kamuntu Asiimwe, Joweria Nambooze, George Wilson Ssonko, James Kakande, Lilian Nyanzi, Peter Kaddu
KEYWORDS:
Nutritional Status, Knowledge Attitudes and Practices, Breast Feeding, Complementary Feeding, Dietary Diversity, Male Involvement
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.12 No.6,
June
11,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Appropriate feeding and consequently good nutritional status of young children largely depends on their
caregivers. Aim: The current study aimed at assessing
maternal/caregivers’ current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs
regarding different aspects of infant and young child feeding in Eastern and
Central Uganda. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design with mixed
methods employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data
collection. Results: The study participants included 556 caregivers and
572 children. Results indicate that most caregivers (77%) were knowledgeable
about key infant and young child feeding practices such as breastfeeding,
complementary feeding and meal frequency. However, culture and economic hardships were a major barrier to the applicability of this knowledge.
Nearly all (98%) children were ever breastfed with 41% having been initiated on
breast milk in the first hour after birth and 68% of all the children below 6
months exclusively breastfed. Three percent of the children aged 6 - 23 months
were classified as having either Moderate (2%) or Severe (1%) Acute malnutrition.
The median birth weight was 3.2 Kgs
with nine percent of the children classified as underweight at birth. The majority
(78%) of the children consumed foods from at least four food groups however
only 44% consumed heme-rich animal flesh
food such as meat, poultry, organ meats and fish, 29% consumed milk and
milk products while only 11% consumed eggs. The barriers to improved
nutritional status and health-seeking behaviour
in children from both regions were largely similar. Some of these included
cultural practices which prohibit children from eating certain foods and lack
of drugs in the health facilities. Lack of male involvement was a key barrier
to health-seeking behaviour and the nutritional well-being of children. Males
were, however, more knowledgeable about the key childcare practices that are
critical to positive outcomes because they listen to radios, have access to
social media and usually congregate at bars where this information is
disseminated and exchanged. Conclusion: There should be continuous
sensitization of mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding with special focus on
early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding as well as child feeding practices
during illness. To increase protein intake
in children 6 - 23 months, interventions aimed at increasing consumption
of these vital nutrients such as promotion of nutrition-sensitive agricultural
enterprises like rearing of small livestock and chickens should be emphasized.
Consumption of these foods is critical, especially during pregnancy and infancy.
Finally, male involvement in maternal and child feeding should be encouraged.