Research proposal sample
KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS ON COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING IN CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS IN KATABI MILITARY HOSPITAL YOUNG CHILD CLINIC WAKISO DISTRICT
ABSTRACT
Stunted growth in Uganda affects over two million children who are under two years of age. There has been rampant cases of mothers administering inappropriate quality, quantity, frequency and consistency of complementary foods due to their lack of knowledge about complementary feeding resulting in more children being susceptible to infection, slower in recovery after illness and higher mortality.
The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge and practices of mothers on complementary feeding in children under two years in Katabi Military Hospital
The study used a cross sectional and a descriptive survey design and employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
The results indicated that majority of the respondents 16 (53.3%) said they had no knowledge on complementary feeding. Results also showed that most mothers 27 (90%) practice complementary feeding, 21 (70%) said they use a bottle, a cup and a spoon. It was also revealed that due to poor socio-economic status most of the respondents 12 (40%) move long distances over 4 km to the health center since majority of them 10 (37.1%) earn between 50,000 -100,000 shs per month and also half 15(50%) said they support themselves with the complementary feeding.
The study concluded that most respondents had no knowledge about complementary feeding leading to poor complementary feeding practices like use of a bottle and this was due to poor social economic status which couldn’t allow them to seek information, buy clean bottles and long distances from health centers.
The study recommended that the women in rural areas should be sensitized through their local leaders and at health Centers about complementary feeding of their children. The study further recommends that most women should be encouraged to practice complementary feeding of their children because at 6 months, exclusive breastfeeding is no longer sufficient to meet all energy and nutrient needs by itself, and complementary foods should be introduced to make up for the difference.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Complementary Feeding: Is the process of feeding that starts when breast milk
alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional
requirements of infants, and therefore other foods and
liquids are needed, along with breast milk which
covers the period from 6 – 24 months of age, even
though breastfeeding may continue to two years of age
and beyond.
Breast feeding: Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young
infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth
and development
Knowledge: The information and understanding that a person has
gained through learning or experience
Practice: these are acts of doing something over and over again
Perceptions: This is the ability to see, here or become aware of
Something through the senses.
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
CBOs : Community-Based Organizations
KNBS : Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
MoH : Ministry of Health
UBOS : Uganda Bureau of Statistics
UDHS : Uganda Demographic and Health Survey
UNICEF : United Nations Children’s Fund
USAID : United States Agency for International Development
WHO : World Health Organization
PHNC : Public Health Nurses College
UNMEB : Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board
Introduction
This chapter presents the background, specific objective, problem statement, purpose of the study, research questions and justification for the study.
1.1 Background
According to Sethi, R. (2017), complementary feeding is the process that starts when breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, and therefore other foods and liquids are needed, along with breast milk which covers the period from 6 – 24 months of age, even though breastfeeding may continue to two years of age and beyond. Complementary feeding is needed to provide energy and essential nutrients required for continued growth and development.eg Soya beans Oranges, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Liver carrots Pumpkin sweet potatoes among others.
Globally, complementary food nutrients complement those in breast milk. At 6 – 24 months of age, a child’s growth at this stage during which nutrient deficiencies and illnesses contribute globally to higher rates of stunted growth among children under two years of age (Neufeld, L. M, et al, 2016).
According to Amosu, A, et al (2011), babies feeding from birth up to the first years of life influences an individual’s whole life. It is common knowledge that breastfeeding is important for optimal infant feeding. Breast milk alone can be used for feeding babies in the first six months of life, but from then on, complementary feeding is necessary. The nutritional adequacy of complementary food is essential for the prevention of infant morbidity and mortality, including malnutrition and overweight. Malnutrition is one of the most widespread conditions affecting child health (Zar, et al 2014). The ‘germ’ of malnutrition ‘infects’ a fetus in the intra-uterine life due to lack of sufficient antenatal care on part of the mother Akhter, M. (2016). The condition deteriorates further when after birth the infant is deprived of complementary feeding.
An estimated 35% of global under-two deaths, and 50-70% of diarrhoeal diseases, measles, malaria and lower respiratory infections in developing countries are attributable to child Stunted growth. Undernourished children are prone to poor mental, physical and physiological development, and are at increased risk of infections and death (Apprey, C. 2015)
Globally, 16.4 million (25%) children under five years of age are under weight, 100.7 million stunted, 51.5 million wasted and 42.6 million are overweight according to (Mercdes et al 2012). It has been estimated that 684000 child death occur worldwide every year and this could be prevented by increasing access to vitamin A and Zinc according to (Ruel, M. T., et al, 2013)
In sub-Saharan Africa, at least 1 in 3 children under 5 years are stunted in 2011, hence affecting their cognitive development and learning ability later in life according to Forsyth, S., et al (2017), Paul, S.et al (2015) states that in sub-Saharan Africa poor knowledge and practices of complementary feeding especially by the mothers has been responsible directly or indirectly for 60% of the 9.7 million deaths annually among children under 2 years, where three quarters of these deaths are associated with inappropriate feeding practices in the first year of life (Meleko, A., et al, 2017).
In order to reduce child mortality and achieve the fourth Millennium Development Goal i.e., to reduce child mortality rates (United Nations Development Group, 2008), there is need to improve the feeding practices of the children, since child feeding is one of the most neglected determinants of young child nutrition in spite of the importance in growth pattern of the child.
In Uganda, early childhood malnutrition rates have been estimated at 40% of the children under five years of age and this has been attributed to improper infant feeding practices eg food insecurity, and lack of access to health care as among the problems (Asiki, G., et al, 2016).
1.2 Problem Statement
Stunted growth in Uganda affects over two million children who are under two years of age. According to USAID, 2010), Karamoja has the highest rate of acute malnutrition recorded to be 13.1%. the district remains above critical level with children 6-23 months being most affected with a minimum of 22.6% and a maximum of 75% according to the district health officer.
Despite the complementary food program and health education on proper nutrition given to mothers during and after attending the child care clinic, there has been rampant cases of mothers administering inappropriate quality, quantity, frequency and consistency of complementary foods due to their lack of knowledge about complementary feeding resulting in more children being susceptible to infection, slower in recovery after illness and higher mortality that is prevalent in Katabi Military hospital, (Nankumbi, J et al, 2015).
Therefore it’s against this background that the researcher sought to investigate the knowledge and practices of mothers on complementary feeding in children under two years in Katabi Military Hospital
1.3 Purpose of the study
To assess the knowledge and practices of mothers on complementary feeding in children under two years in katabi military Hospital in an effort to assist in devising means of improving the use of complementary feeding methods or practices and in the event reduce levels of malnutrition and stunted growth among children.
1.4 Specific Objectives
- To assess the level of knowledge of mothers on complementary feeding in children under two years in katabi military Hospital
- To establish the complementary feeding practices of mothers with children under two years in katabi military Hospital
- To identify the social economic factors affecting mothers with children under two years undergoing complementary feeding in katabi military Hospital
1.5 Research questions.
- What is the level of knowledge that mothers have on complementary feeding in children under two years in katabi military Hospital?
- What are the complementary feeding practices do mothers with children under two years have in in katabi military Hospital?
- What are the social economic factors affect mothers carrying out complementary feeding in children under two years in katabi military Hospital?
1.6 Justification of the study
The findings from this study will be used by the Ministry of Health, Non-Governmental Organizations, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in improving complementary feeding practices by identifying the potential areas which still require improvements in funding, development and national sensitization with regard to need and importance of ensuring proper complementary feeding by mothers.
The study will also provide a valuable point of reference for researchers carrying out similar studies in future and will also contribute to the available body of literature on the factors affecting complementary feeding
Results of the study will improve on the knowledge of health workers and mother mothers attending Katabi Military hospital in understanding the determinants of complementary feeding to young children and this will service an important tool for any possible intervention aimed at improving the levels of complementary feeding with in the area
The research will help the researcher attain a diploma in nursing
