Research Article
To Study Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Mothers of Children (1-59 Months) Admitted with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Regarding Feeding and Prevention of Malnutrition
Tahilramani G1*, Meena RK2 and Mathur A3
1Nutritionist- National Health Mission, NRC - Department of Pediatrics, Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India
2Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences >B, Dilshad Garden, New Delhi, India
3Department of Pediatrics, Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India
*Corresponding author: Tahilramani G, Nutritionist- National Health Mission, NRC - Department of Pediatrics, Hindu Rao
Hospital, New Delhi, India Email: geet.tahilramani@gmail.com
Article Information: Submission: 08/05/2021; Accepted: 10/06/2021; Published: 12/06/2021
Copyright: © 2021 Tahilramani G, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The first 1000 days of a child’s life are considered to be the most vital (beginning from conception to 2nd birthday) for the health, happiness & survival of
child. Knowledge of mothers has an important role in the maintenance of nutritional status of the children. Only knowledge is not sufficient but having attitude
is also important to put it into practice.
Objective: To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of mothers of under-five children having Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) regarding
antenatal care, IYCF practices and associated preventive factors for malnutrition.
Materials and Methods: Type of study: Cross sectional descriptive study.
Study period: April 2018 to October 2018.
Study population-Mothers/primary caregiver of the children admitted at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) of Pediatrics department of a teaching
hospital having SAM with medical complication / no medical complication that consented for participation.
Method: Mothers/primary caregiver were interviewed on various aspects of child care using a predesigned Performa KAP were assessed related to
Antenatal care, IYCF practices, Malnutrition. These were analyzed on excel programme.
Results: Total 65 mothers/primary caregivers of children with average age 15 months and 41.5% female participated. Mothers had fair KAP about
antenatal visits required, medication required in antenatal period and place of delivery. The same applies for growth monitoring and immunization.
Knowledge and attitude regarding breast feeding are fair but practices are still very low. For complementary feeding and underlying factors for malnutrition
not only knowledge and practice is low but attitude is also poor.
Conclusion: Awareness of mothers regarding ANC, growth of child and immunization is fair and still needs to be improved to get desired levels of good practices.
We need to have a community based strong IYCF programme emphasizing on the knowledge of mothers on this important child care aspect and
counselling of mothers to improve their knowledge and practices with change of attitude.
Their stay in NRC should also be used to improve their knowledge and attitude to have better practices. This will go in a long way to prevent and treat
malnutrition which is a major threat country is facing.