Caregiver perceived barriers to the use of micronutrient powder for children aged 6–59 months in Bangladesh

Background The effectiveness of micronutrient powder (MNP) on the health outcome of children is yet to be proved. Although studies identified the barriers to the use of MNP the underlying factors related to the barriers to the use of MNP are still unexplored. We examined the underlying factors associated with the barriers reported by the caregivers of the children aged 6–59 months in Bangladesh. Methods We analyzed pooled data of 3, 634 caregiver-child dyads extracted from eight cross-sectional surveys. The surveys were conducted as part of an evaluation of the Maternal, Infant and Young Children Nutrition programme (phase 2) in Bangladesh. We performed univariate analysis to find the barriers reported by the caregivers of the children. We identified the underlying factors related to the reported barriers by performing multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The mostly reported barrier was perceived lack of need for MNP among the caregivers of the children (39.9%), followed by lack of awareness of the product (21.7%) and cost of the product (18.1%). Caregivers of older children (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.69; 95% CI: 1.43, 2.00) and caregivers who maintained good infant and young child feeding practices (aOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.57) perceived more lack of need for MNP. Caregivers of the female children (aOR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.98) were less likely to report that their children disliked MNP compared to the caregivers of the male children. Conclusion Programmes intended to effectively promote MNP among the caregivers of children aged 6–59 months should carefully consider the factors that could underlie the barriers to the use of MNP.

Study of Differences in Children Nutrition Status Aged 6-24 Months with Exclusive and Non-Exclusive Breastfeeding in Mattampa Bulu Village

Background: Breast milk is the most ideal biological and physiological first food during the growth and development process due to the presence of protective and nutritional factors and also the needs of children according to their age and phase of growth and development. Methods: This study aims to determine differences in nutritional status based on BB/U and PB/U for children aged 6-24 months in Mattampa Bulu Village. This study used 47 samples which were measured for body weight and length then the mother filled out a questionnaire. Result: The results of the study using the Chi Square test showed that there was a significant difference between nutritional status based on body weight in children with exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding history with p < 0.05 (p = 0.011), but there was no difference in nutritional status based on PB/ U with p > 0.05 (p=0.913). Results: Based on the research, it may be concluded that children with exclusive breastfeeding have good nutritional status based on the indicators of BB/U and there is no difference in the incidence of stunting in children with a history of exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding

Measuring and Predicting Intention of Senegalese Mothers to Provide Iron-Rich Foods to their Children

In Senegal, only 43% of children aged 6-23 months are provided with iron-rich foods (IRF). Assessing determinants of mothers’ behaviour is imperative to improve young children nutrition. We developed a validated questionnaire and used it to assess psychosocial factors of mothers' intention to provide IRF to their children aged 6-23 months in the Matam area, Senegal. Using the planned behaviour theory, the first version of a questionnaire was developed and administered to 120 mothers. Exploratory factorial analyses (EFA) were used to generate a shorter and validated final version of the questionnaire, administered to another sample (N=100) of mothers to assess psychosocial factors underlying their intention to provide IRF to children. EFA revealed the importance of perceived benefits mothers have for the health/welfare of their children if providing them IRF, about acting according to expectations of persons in their surroundings and limited access to IRF due to physical/financial constraints. Attitude (β=0.26, p = 0.015) and subjective norm (β = 0.22, p = 0.047) were positively associated with mothers’ intention to provide IRF to their children. Together with sociodemographic variables, they explained 14% of its variance. Our findings revealed that mothers have a strong intention to provide IRF to their children. Although further assessments of this questionnaire are warranted in other contexts, this tool could provide information on potential determinants of mothers’ intention to provide IRF to children.

Efektivitas Poster Pemberian Nutrisi Anak Terhadap Pengetahuan Orangtua Tentang Pemberian Nutrisi Dalam Pencegahan Stunting Di TK Bina Anaprasa Nurul Jadid

The increasing number of stunting in Indonesia has crossed the WHO limit and has become a national issue that the incidence of stunting leads to unmet nutritional needs starting from the fetus to the age of toddlers, toddlers to toddlers. The purpose of the study was to find out the effectiveness of posters for giving children nutrition to parents' knowledge about nutrition in preventing stunting. This research is an intervention research by providing nutrition and stunting health education with 1 group pre-post test with pictorial media in the form of posters. The technique used is total sampling, namely all parents who have children from Bina Anaprasa Kindergarten. Data was collected by using a paired T-test approach through a pre-post test. The average result obtained is an average difference with a p value of 0.031, which means that there is an increase in knowledge of parents after being given nutrition education interventions in preventing stunting.

Nutrition education improves knowledge and BMI-for-age in Ghanaian school-aged children

Background: Adequate nutrition is required for growth and development in children. This study tested the effectiveness of nutrition education on knowledge and BMI-for-age (BFA) of school-aged children in the Kumasi Metropolis. Methods: Children, aged 9-13 years old were recruited from ten randomly selected primary schools in the Metropolis. The schools were randomly allocated into 3 groups: nutrition education (3 schools), physical activity (PA) education (3 schools), both interventions (2 schools), or control (2 schools). Following a baseline nutrition and PA knowledge and status assess- ment in 433 children, twice-monthly nutrition and PA education and demonstrations were carried out for 6 months, followed by a post-intervention assessment. Results: PA and nutrition knowledge improved in all groups (P<0.001); the highest improvement was among those who received both interventions (31.0%), followed by the nutrition education group (29.8%), and the least, the control group (19.1%). Overall, BFA improved by +0.36, from baseline (-0.26) to end of the intervention (+0.10, P<0.001). Within the groups, the nutrition group (+0.65, P<.001) had the highest improvement, then, both the intervention group (+0.27, P<0.001), the PA group (+0.23, P<0.001) and lastly, the control group (+0.18, P=0.001). Conclusion: Nutrition education could improve knowledge and BMI-for-age in school-aged children in Ghana. Keywords: School-aged children; nutrition education; BMI-for-age; nutrition knowledge; basic school.

Possible Risk Factors Related to Malnutrition in 6-59-Month Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition in District Pakpattan, Punjab

Background: Malnutrition is responsible for one third of the mortality rate among children less than 5 years old. Worldwide, 54% of the child deaths are due to malnutrition and the caseload in Pakistan is equal to 46%. In the current study, we attempted to identify the possible risk factors related to malnutrition among 6-59-month children in Pakpattan, Punjab province. Methods: A total of 500 severe acute malnourished (SAM) 6-59-month children were assessed during a period of 12 months (March 2018 to Feb 2019) to find out the possible risk factors for SAM. Results: Based on the findings, significant possible determinants risk factors related to acute malnutrition include edema, blurred vision, illness history, birth interval, mother body mass index (BMI), complementary feeding, family size, and family member working status. Conclusion: Malnutrition risk factors depend upon children nutrition status and early detection of these risk factors may improve the nutrition status and functional recovery in children.

Maternal literacy and malnutrition in children: A comparative study.

Nutritional status is an important aspect of child’s health profile and affects child’s development and growth. This study aimed at exploring relationship between maternal literacy and malnutrition in children under-five years old. Methodology: Two groups were made comprising of mothers, according to the nutritional status of their under-five children presenting in free clinic in Ali Raza Abad Lahore with URTI. Results: Significant difference was found in literacy level in two groups; with 38% illiteracy amongst mothers with malnourished children as compared to 14% amongst women with children not suffering from malnutrition and p value at 0.0062. More mothers of children suffering from malnutrition were found illiterate as compared to mother of well-nourished children. Conclusion: As illiteracy affected children nutrition it is recommended that illiterate women may be targeted for health education on short term basis and education be made mandatory for long term solution to this problem.

Nutritional Education Is an Effective Tool in Improving Beverage Assortment in Nurseries in Poland

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of education on improving the assortment of beverages served in nurseries in Poland. This analysis focused on beverages served to children with meals and between meals. We examined: water, tea, juices, soft/fruit drinks, compote, milk, cocoa, and coffee substitute. The study involved 93 nurseries enrolled in the Eating Healthy, Growing Healthy project and was conducted from 2015 to 2017. Nutritional education was carried out by dieticians or nutritionists and included 24 h of lectures given to the staff of nurseries. Training was conducted in a form of workshops that were divided into 12 topics. Additionally, consultations regarding infants and young children nutrition were available to the staff. Typically, education training was completed within 1–2 months in each nursery. The effectiveness of education was verified based on data on beverage supply in 186 ten-day menus, 1860 daily inventory reports before (at baseline), and 3–6 months after staff training (post baseline). Data were analyzed in a total group, and separately for public and non-public nurseries. Statistical analyses for categorical variables were done with Chi2 Pearson test. The differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. After education, a significant increase in the supply of water as a beverage served with meals was observed in all nurseries (68% vs. 87%; p = 0.002), both in public (72% vs. 90%, p = 0.036) and non-public (62% vs. 84%, p = 0.017) ones. Moreover, a decrease in served tea was noted: in all nurseries (71% vs. 44%, p < 0.001) and in public nurseries (77% vs. 42%, p < 0.001). Water was available between meals in almost all nurseries. Nutritional education for staff is an important tool for improving adherence to the nutritional recommendation in the case of core beverage supply in Polish nurseries.

Management strategy for children with dentoalveolar disorders against the background of chronic kidney disease

According to the European Dialysis and Transplantation Association (EDTA), the incidence of chronic kidney disease is 4–6 cases per million children under the age of 15 and it increases with the age of the child. In order to optimize dental care for children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), an algorithm for dental treatment and prevention was developed. A questionnaire was conducted among 57 children with CKD and 57 parents of this group of children to assess parental and child knowledge of the basics of preventive measures for kidney diseases. Based on the results of the questionnaire, nutritional recommendations were developed. It was found that 100% of parents know the basic nutritional guidelines for children with CKD. Particular attention was paid to children’s consumption of food containing salt. All parents surveyed (100%) were convinced that their children do not consume salty foods, while 23.1% of children claimed to consume them 3 times a day. Thus, it is advisable to implement the developed complex method of treatment and prevention of dental diseases with the inclusion of sanitary and hygienic education on the issues of nutrition for patients with CKD in order to further prevent not only recurrence, but also the progression of existing pathology. Key words: children, nutrition, dental care, chronic kidney disease