Effect of Mothers’ Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices in Childcare on the Growth of Children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt

2 Assistant Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University, Egypt

3 Assistant professor of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt

Abstract

Well education about nutrition can improve maternal nutritional knowledge and practices
significantly, that improve the growth of children. Aim: Assess the effect of mothers’ nutritional
knowledge, attitude, and practices in childcare on the growth of children. Subjects and method:
Design: An analytical cross-sectional study research design was conducted for 100 mothers and
their children aged 6-23 months in Medical Pediatric Out-Patient Clinic in Sohag University
Hospital. Tools for data collection: Four tools were used to collect the data in the current study,
tool (I): A structured questionnaire that consisted of two parts: part (1): Sociodemographic
characteristics of mothers of children, part (2): Demographic characteristics of children, tool (II):
Anthropometric measurement tool, and tool (III): Nutrition-related KAP model questionnaires
(Module 2: Feeding young children (6–23 months), and tool (IV): Modified Fahmy and ElSherbini
scale. Results: it observed that a significant positive relationship was detected between knowledge,
attitude, and practices and WFA (r = 0.26, P = 0.0001) and between WFH (r = 0.11, P = 0.02). In
the studied young children, it was observed that 54% of young children between 6-8 months
consume the recommended and 59% of young children between 9 and 23 months consume more
than recommended. Conclusion: Mothers’ nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding
childcare have positively affected the growth of children. Recommendations: Educational
programs about balanced nutrition for children aged 6-23 should be taught to all mothers.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics