scholarly journals Predictors of undernutrition and anemia among children aged 6–24 months in a low-resourced setting of Ghana: a baseline survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37
Author(s):  
Collins Afriyie Appiah ◽  
Faustina O. Mensah ◽  
Frank E. A. Hayford ◽  
Vincent A. Awuuh ◽  
Daniel Edem Kpewou

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of child undernutrition and anemia among children 6–24 months old in the East Mamprusi district, Northern region, Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study recruited 153 children and their mothers. Weight, height and hemoglobin levels of the children were measured. A structured questionnaire based on the World Health Organization's indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices was used to collect data on parents' socioeconomic status, household characteristics, hygiene and sanitation practices, mothers' knowledge on feeding practices such as child's meal frequency and dietary diversity and child morbidity within the past two weeks. Predictors of child nutritional status were determined using multinomial logistic regression analysis.FindingsUnderweight in the children was significantly predicted by maternal knowledge on protein foods (AOR = 0.045, p = 0.008), time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 0.222, p = 0.032) and maternal age (AOR = 9.455, p = 0.017). Feeding child from separate bowls (AOR = 0.239, p = 0.005), minimum meal frequency per child's age (AOR = 0.189, p = 0.007) and time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 0.144, p = 0.009) were significant determinants of stunting among the children. Exclusive breast feeding (AOR = 7.975, p = 0.012) and child's past morbidity (AOR = 0.014, p = 0.001) significantly contributed to anemia among the children.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a cross-sectional study and cannot establish causality. The small sample size also limits the generalizability of study findings. However, findings of the study highlight factors which could potentially influence the high rate of child undernutrition in the study setting.Practical implicationsThis study identifies determinants of undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district, an underresourced area in Ghana. This information could inform the development/reformulation of locally sensitive key messages and targeted intervention strategies to curb the high levels of child undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district of Ghana.Originality/valueThis study identifies maternal care practices as key potential drivers of undernutrition in a low-resource setting known for high prevalence of child undernutrition. It suggests insight for large-scale studies on the predictors of child undernutrition in Northern Ghana and other resource-poor settings.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniella Garcia Vidal Rodrigues Leonez ◽  
Angélica Rocha de Freitas Melhem ◽  
Daniele Gonçalves Vieira ◽  
Débora Falleiros de Mello ◽  
Paula Chuproski Saldan

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify if there are differences among the complementary feeding indicators of children aged 6-23 months according to the breastfeeding status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1,355 children aged 6-23 months in 2012 to evaluate five indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and modified in accordance with Brazilian’s recommendations “Ten steps to a healthy feeding: a feeding guide for children under two years old”. The indicators used were: I. Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods; II. Minimum dietary diversity; III. Minimum meal frequency; IV. Minimum acceptable diet, and V. Consumption of iron-rich foods. To verify differences between the complementary feeding indicators according to breastfeeding status, the F-statistic was used, with p≤0.05 meaning significant. Results: Indicators I, II, and V were similar among breastfed and non-breastfed children; however, indicators III and IV presented a higher proportion of adequacy for non-breastfed children, with 94.9% (CI95% 93.2-96.2) versus 40.3% (CI95% 33.2-47.9) for indicator III, and 57.3% (CI95% 53.2-61.2) versus 23.1% (CI95% 17.4-30.1) for indicator IV. Conclusions: Non-breastfed children have better complementary feeding status, but the indicator III takes into account non-breast milk as a meal for non-breastfed children, which increased the number of dairy meals and influenced indicator IV (calculated from indicators II and III).


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Yeshaneh ◽  
Meron Zebene ◽  
Molla Gashu ◽  
Haimanot Abebe ◽  
Habtemariam Abate

Abstract Background Internally displaced populations are susceptible to food deprivation. Specifically, children aged 6–23 are commonly vulnerable to poor complementary feeding. Proper complementary feeding is of paramount importance to the healthy growth and survival of a children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of appropriate complementary feeding practices and associated factors among internally displaced children aged 6–23 months in northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2020 among 264 internally displaced mothers of children 6–23 months in northwest Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used to reach the study subjects and data were collected using a structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into the Epi Data version 4.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Binary and multivariable analyses with a 95% confidence level were performed. In the final model, variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The overall level of appropriate complementary feeding practice was 26.8%. Only 14% of the mothers provided a diversified diet for their 6–23 months children. Child aged 6–11 months (AOR = 0.11, 95%; CI: 0.04–0.27), 12–17 months (AOR = 0.35, 95%; 95% CI: 0.17–0.70) and not having harmful culture on complementary feeding (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.06–3.96) were independent predictors of appropriate complementary feeding practices. Conclusion The level of appropriate complementary feeding practice was found to be low, which would have negative implications on the health and nutritional status of infants and young children. Additional rations for breastfeeding mothers and children aged 6–23 months at refugee camps and nutritional counseling on child feeding practices are recommended.


2021 ◽  
pp. 52-65
Author(s):  
Radiati Moviana ◽  
Siti Munawaroh

This study aims to determine the motivation for breastfeeding and the practice of choosing complementary feeding  for children 6-24 months. The design of this research is a cross sectional study conducted in three posyandu in Pekalongan City from July to August 2021. The respondents were 42 mothers with children 6-24 months. The results showed that 71.43% of mothers had good motivation to give complementary feeding and the practice of choosing complementary feeding in more than half of the mothers was good (59,52%). There is a significant relationship between the motivation of giving omplementary feeding to mothers with the practice of choosing complementary feeding for mothers (p<0,05), but there is no significant relationship between education and income of the mother's family with the  choosing complementary feeding practices on mothers (p>0,05).


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Deepali Ambike ◽  
Vijay Bhavari ◽  
Faisal Poker ◽  
Kaenat Ahmed

Background: Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies is a very common cause of late weaning and improper weaning practices. There are many factors affecting the weaning practices in developing countries like India which may act as hindrance to the proper weaning methods. The objective of this study was to know the awareness about weaning or complementary feeding practices in the mothers of children attending the pediatric OPD. And to study the various determinants affecting the weaning or Complementary feeding practices in this rural population.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in pediatric immunization outpatient clinic of M.I.M.E.R medical college, Talegaon (D) during the period from May to September 2016.About 300 parents were interviewed with a semi open questionnaire.Results: Out of total 304 respondents, total unawareness regarding weaning was the reason for not starting complimentary feeding at 6-months in 64 respondents (21.1%). Majority of the respondents (210, 69.1%) revealed that they prefer home based complimentary feeding. A total of 125 respondents (41.1%) admitted that they stopped the feeding in the event of illness.Conclusions: Incorrect weaning practices, withholding breastfeeding and improper feeding during illnesses are the major deterrents which can hamper proper weaning techniques and are major contributory factors in increasing Malnutrition. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Hambisa ◽  
Rediet Feleke ◽  
Ameha Zewudie ◽  
Mohammed Yimam

Background:: Rational drug use comprises aspects of prescribing, dispensing and patient use of medicines for different health problems. This study is aimed to assess drug prescribing practice based on the world health organization prescribing indicators in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Methods:: An institutional based retrospective cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate prescribing practices in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Data were collected based on World health organization drug use indicators using prescription papers. 600 prescriptions dispensed through the general outpatient pharmacy of the hospital were collected by systematic random sampling method from prescriptions written for a 1-year time in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. Results:: The present study found that the average number of drugs per prescription was 2.04 ± 0.87 in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital with a range between 1 and 5. Prescribing by generic name was 97.6 % and 47.8% of prescriptions contained antibiotics in the hospital. 27.7% of prescriptions contained at least one injectable medication in Mizan-Tepi University teaching hospital. From prescribed drugs, 96.7% of them were prescribed from Ethiopian essential drug list. Conclusion:: Present study indicated that the average number of drugs prescribed per encounter, the percentage of generic prescribing and prescribing from the EDL were close to optimal value. However, the percentage of encounters with antibiotics and injections prescribed were found be very high. Thus, the study highlights some improvements in prescribing habits, particularly by focusing on the inappropriate consumption of antibiotics and injections.


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