Maternal Nutrition Knoweldge, Infant Feeding Practices and Young Child Nutrition: a Case of Bosaso District, Somalia

Abstract

Maternal Knowledge, attitude and practice of infant and young child feeding are key factors for optimal nutritional status, health and development of the children. Inadequate knowledge of appropriate foods and feeding practices is often a determining factor of malnutrition. The main objective of this study was to determine maternal nutrition knowledge, infant feeding practices and nutritional status of the children aged 0-24 months in Bosaso, Somalia. A cross sectional study was carried out among 348 mothers with children aged 0-24 months living in Bosaso District, Somalia. Data was collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A structured household questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from mothers of infants and young children aged 0-24 months. Data on demographic characteristics of the household, Hygiene and sanitation, Feeding practices and maternal nutrition knowledge. Food frequency and dietary diversity questionnaires were used to obtain data on food patterns, anthropometric techniques were used to determine the nutrition status of the study children. Focus group discussion was used to collect qualitative data on: maternal nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and child feeding practices. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse. Normal test proportions were determined for socio- demographic and socio economic variables. Chi square was used for comparison and association of prevalence stunting, underweight and wasting between different groups, correlations were used for analysis the relationships between maternal knowledge and other variables. Mean score and knowledge z-score was computed and used to group the respondents into three knowledge groups of low, moderate, and high knowledge score. The study results obtained showed the study population had poor socio-economic status and the families were living in low wealth level .Mother’s nutrition knowledge on child feeding practices were moderate at 48.6%, about 40.5% had poor knowledge and 11% were highly knowledgeable. About 42.5% mothers had knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding while 31.6% on breastfeeding initiation, 31% had knowledge of frequency of breastfeeding and 42.5% of the mothers were exclusively breastfeeding.There was a significant difference between maternal nutrition knowledge, maternal health education (p=0.000),income(p=0.001),occupation(p=0.001)and breastfeeding practices (p=0.001) underweight (p=0.007) and wasting (p=0.001).There was no significant different between knowledge and mothers/care givers marital status (p= 0.606). There was no significant different between maternal nutritional knowledge, stunting (p=0.152) and MUAC (p=.0.143).

For all the three nutritional indicators, there was a positive correlation between maternal nutrition knowledge and stunting (r=0.084) wasting (r=0.140), the strongest being underweight (r=0.167).The mothers/care givers had moderate maternal nutrition knowledge on child feeding practices. Most mothers and care givers were aware of the recommended breastfeeding practices but the actual practice of the recommendation of infant and young child feeding practices was poor. The level of maternal nutrition knowledge affected young child nutrition and adoption of breastfeeding practices. There is need for counseling among mothers and care givers on the recommended child feeding practices in order to reduce the level of malnourished children in the community.