The impact of demographic and socio-economic characteristics on feeding and caring practices for children under two years in rural Malawi
UNICEF conceptual framework on the causes of malnutrition shows clear link between socio-economic and demographic characteristics with inadequate dietary intake and diseases which are immediate causes of malnutrition. This study was carried out to determine the impact of caregiver’s demographic and...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2021
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| Online Access: | http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:8080/handle/20.500.12845/331 |
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Add Tag | Summary: | UNICEF conceptual framework on the causes of malnutrition shows clear link between socio-economic and demographic characteristics with inadequate dietary intake and diseases which are immediate causes of malnutrition. This study was carried out to determine the impact of caregiver’s demographic and socio-economic characteristics on child dietary intake and health seeking behaviour for children less than two years in rural Malawi to inform the design of health and nutrition programs targeting rural population. This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary analysis of data collected through International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS-DOSE) Project from June 2009 to December 2013. A total of 1932 caregivers and children were included in analysis. Logistic regression model was used to investigate the effect of socio-economic and demographic characteristics on minimum dietary diversity and care-giver’s health seeking behaviour for common childhood illnesses. Only 2.5% of the children were able to meet minimum dietary diversity (≥4food groups) at 6 months. Care givers that had attained complete primary education were 2 times more likely to meet child minimum dietary diversity as compared to caregivers with no education [OR 2.5 (95% CI:0.27,24.8)]. The odds of practicing appropriate care seeking behaviour increased by 0.07 for caregivers aged 18 to 24 years [ OR 1.07 (95% CI: 0.40,2.83) Interventions aimed at improving the socio-economic status of rural households in Malawi can greatly improve children dietary diversity. |
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