Factors influencing feeding practices and malnutrition in children under five years in Karamoja Sub-Region

Abstract

The study's main objective was to examine the relationship between feeding practice and malnutrition among children aged 0-5 years in Karamoja. The study used secondary data which was collected by UBOS. The data was presented at two levels that is to say univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. The study findings show that mother's level of education had a statistically significant association with malnutrition among children under five years. Results indicated that the higher the level of education, the lower chances of children being malnourished. Therefore, the stated hypothesis "There is no association between mother's education level and malnutrition among under-five children" for this factor was false. Besides that, the wealth index was another single factor associated with the nutrition status among under-five children. Results indicated that children born to poor mothers were more malnourished than those born to rich mothers. This made the stated hypothesis "There is no association between wealth index and malnutrition among under-five children" for this factor false. Feeding practice was also associated with the nutrition status among under-five children. Results indicated that proper feeding practice lowers the prevalence of malnutrition. This made the stated hypothesis “There is no association between feeding practice and malnutrition among under-five children" for this factor false. The husband's occupation was also statistically associated with nutrition deficiency among under-five children. However, other variables used to measure malnutrition among children under five years were not statistically associated, making the stated hypotheses for these factors true since the p-value was more significant than 0.05. Due to the results, education being one of the factors that influence the nutrition status of children less than five years, investment in girl child education should be increased in the country by the government and even non-government organizations. On top of that, primary health centers should also educate mothers about children's nutrition; this will provide more knowledge for them as some of them lack knowledge concerning children's nutrition irrespective of income level. Income being another factor that influences the nutrition status of children, investment in women empowerment programs by the government and other non-government institutions should also be highly emphasized by the policymakers in the country as economically stable women can provide the required diet for their children compared to those who are poor.