Impact of maternal work on the nutrition status of children aged 6-59 months : a case study of Lira City

Abstract

Malnutrition among children under five years remains a significant public health challenge in Uganda, particularly in urban settings like Lira City. This study assessed the influence of maternal employment status and work-related factors on the nutritional status of children aged 6–59 months. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, targeting 210 mother-child pairs selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements including weight, height/length, and MUAC were taken. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 20. The findings revealed that 80% of mothers were engaged in informal work, while 20% held formal employment. Most mothers were involved in sales, services, and professional work. Nutritional assessment showed that while most children had normal status based on MUAC for age and Weight-for-Height Z-scores, malnutrition remained present, with moderate acute malnutrition observed in a small proportion of children. No statistically significant relationship was found between the nature of maternal work and child nutritional status (p > 0.05). However, maternal marital status and educational level were also not positively associated with child nutrition status. Feeding practices, including meal frequency, dietary diversity, and breastfeeding, were influenced by maternal work conditions, particularly long and irregular working hours among informally employed mothers. The study highlights the complex interplay between maternal employment, care giving practices, and child nutrition in the urban Lira City. It recommends strengthening maternal support systems, improving work-family balance policies, and enhancing health education programs to promote optimal child feeding and care practices.