An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study on Caregiver’s Knowledge on Nutritional Requirement of Children Aged Six Months to Two Years

Abstract

Introduction: Giving healthy balanced diet to children ensures that they are getting all the essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Majority of the mortality and morbidity among children occur in the under 5 age group and one of the major causes of death is the malnutrition. Focussing on overall nutritional value of food given is more important than on any one nutrient or some of them. Hence the study was done to assess the mother’s or direct care giver’s knowledge on nutritional requirement of children aged six months to two years.

Methods: It was an exploratory mixed method design where qualitative (Using in-depth interview) method was followed by the quantitative (Using communitybased cross sectional study design). A questionnaire was developed with items exploring the knowledge of caretakers of under 2-year children with the help of “In depth interview” technique among caretakers of a representative population. Questionnaire was also had details on socio-demographic variables and details on obstetrics and other health care seeking behavior of mothers.

Results: In-depth interview explored that caretakers and health care workers perspective on nutritional requirement for children aged 6 months to 2 years were mother’s educational status, family income and number of family members / children and various customs and belief. In the quantitative phase, 58.9% caregivers of children received information on feeding from health staffs and about 83.3% of them introduced complementary feeding after six months of age. The knowledge on practice food diversity was also found to be adequate.

Conclusion: Health education to caretakers regarding importance of balanced diet with efficient use of complimentary feeding and use of diverse food items to generate interest of child is important.