Determinants of Appropriate Child Health and Nutrition Practices among Women in Rural Gambia

Abstract

Health education and awareness involves providing knowledge about causes of illness and choices to promote a change in individual behaviour and, thus, improves survival of individuals. Studies have, however, shown that improved knowledge and awareness is not always translated into appropriate actions. This study aimed at exploring the factors determining mothers’ choices of appropriate child health and nutrition practices in the Gambia. Eight focus-group discussions (FGDs) were held with 63 women whose children had been seen at the Keneba MRC Clinic within the 12 months preceding the study. The FGDs were analyzed using a thematic framework. Gender inequality, presence or absence of support networks, alternative explanatory models of malnutrition, and poverty were identified as the main factors that would determine the ability of a mother to practise what she knows about child health and nutrition. The findings highlight the need to consider the broader social, cultural and economic factors, including the value of involving men in childcare, when designing nutritional interventions.

Factors Contributing to Lower than Expected Recovery Rates of HIV Negative Children on the Therapeutic Feeding Program

“…Household income has effect on the household's nutritional status and thus is of paramount importance. It has been noted that access to economic resources is controlled by men such that the health of the child and mother depends greatly on the male figure who is more dominant [30]. This is in line with [25], who stated that sex of household head is designed to potray legal and societal advantages.…”

Knowledge of Infant Nutrition among Mothers in Enugu State, South Eastern, Nigeria: Implications for Social Work Practice

“…This was done by going through the transcripts and selecting the emerging themes which were grouped into main themes and sub-themes as other new themes emerged (Mwangome, et al 2010).…”

“…Qualitative research was undoubtedly the most appropriate method of gaining an understanding of the child health and nutrition practices of mothers (Mwangome, et al 2010). However, the study was carried out when there was incessant report on the rising wave of child theft in Enugu State, and so, most of the rural women were skeptical about the questions that bordered on the nutrition of their children.…”

“…Social workers can also help in developing enlightment campaigns/programmes using pamphlets, radio and TV jungles to educate mothers in this kind of stereotype which says that any infant who dared eat meat or eggs will become a thief or glutton in his adult age. The traditional beliefs and practices could affect child health and nutrition in different ways: (a) they could intercept and or complicate the disease status of children to the point of death or disability (b) they could deplete or limit the available family resources and (c) they could breed social stigma (Mwangome, et al 2010).…”

“…Recently, there has been an increase in the prevalence of malnutrition in Africa, which means that the goal set to reduce the levels of malnutrition by 50% between 1990 and 2015 may not be met (Mwangome et al, 2010). The number of under weight children in Africa increased from 26 million in 1990 to 32 million in 2000 (Blossner, et al, 2005).…”