Associating factors with Knowledge attitude and practices of mothers of fewer than five children regarding prevention of Protein Energy Malnutrition
Abstract
Protein Energy Malnutrition is a public health problem in fewer than five children and mothers are mainly responsible for that. So this study was conducted to find out associating factors with knowledge Attitude and Practices of mothers of fewer than five children regarding Protein Energy Malnutrition and its prevention. This study was conducted on 300 mothers of fewer than five children residing at Dhand Amer, Jaipur (Rajasthan) area. Data were collected by using structured interview questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that majority (80%) of the subjects had inadequate knowledge, 56.66% had neutral attitude and had 53.33% average practices regarding prevention of protein energy malnutrition. Significant positive correlation was found in attitude and practice only. Knowledge was significantly more adequate in higher education, housewives in joint families, higher income group and in mixed diet takers than their counterparts. Attitude was significantly more favourable in higher education, housewives and in joint families than their counterparts. Practice was significantly good in higher age, housewives and higher income families than their counterparts.
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Introduction
Protein energy malnutrition is a wide spread type of under nutrition among the underprivileged in tropical and subtropical countries. It is caused by a diet that is severely deficient in protein and contains less than adequate calories. Kwashiorkor occurs in infants and children between 4 months and 5 years of age. Marasmus is a form of under nutrition caused by inadequate calorie intake occurring chiefly during the first year of life .1
Under nutrition is widely recognized as a major health problem in the developing countries of the world. The frequency of under nutrition cannot be easily estimated from prevalence of commonly recognized clinical syndrome of malnutrition such as marasmus and kwashiorkor because these constitute only proverbial tip of the iceberg. Cases with mild to moderate under- nutrition are likely to remain unrecognized because clinical criteria for their diagnosis are imprecise and difficult to interpret accurately. Growing children are most vulnerable to effects of under nutrition. Nutritional status of children is an indicator of nutritional profile of the entire community.2
Nutritional status plays a vital role in the deciding the health status particularly in children. Nutritional deficiencies give rise to various morbidities, which in turn may lead to increased mortality. Under nutrition also is known factor closely associated with child mortality? Nutritional status is a sensitive indicator of community health and nutrition.
Conclusion
The results revealed that majority (80%) of the subjects had inadequate knowledge, 56.66% had neutral attitude and had 53.33% average practices regarding prevention of protein energy malnutrition. Significant positive correlation was found in attitude and practice only. Knowledge was significantly more adequate in higher education, housewives in joint families, higher income group and in mixed diet takers than their counterparts. Attitude was significantly more favourable in higher education, housewives and in joint families than their counterparts. Practice was significantly good in higher age, housewives and higher income families than their counterparts.
So improvement in living standard of families, home empowerment of mothers with the aim of augmenting family income and parental education on appropriate feeding practices may help in reducing the incidence of under-five malnutrition in communities.