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A Pilot Study to Assess Nutritional Status of Preschool Children and the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Dietary Habits in Relation to Prevention of Malnutrition Among Mothers of Preschool Children
Corresponding Author(s) : Deelip S Natekar
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2017): 2017 Volume 5- Issue -1
Abstract
Background
Malnutrition is one of the significant factors contributing to Infant and child mortality in developing countries of the world. Nutrition during the first five years has an impact not only on growth and morbidity during childhood, but also acts as a determinant of nutritional status in adolescent and adult life.
Aims and objectives
The study aimed at assessing the nutritional status, pre test and post test knowledge, attitude and practice scores regarding the prevention of malnutrition among mothers of preschool children. To fine out the effectiveness of planned teaching programme regarding the prevention of malnutrition, to find the correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice scores and to determine the association between knowledge, attitude and practice scores with selected demographic variables.
Materials and methods
Nutritional status of preschool children was assessed by taking height and weight, knowledge of mothers was assessed by structured knowledge questionnaires, practice and attitude of mothers of pre school children was assessed by rating scale and likert scale respectively.
Results
The study results shows that 72.5 % of children are having normal nutritional status, 7.5% are having grade II malnutrition. There is a significant correlation between knowledge and practice scores (r =0.4066), there is a mild correlation between knowledge and attitude score (r =0.15), there is a is a mild correlation between practice and attitude scores (r =0.01). there is a significant difference between pre test and post test knowledge scores (t=7.75, df=t39), there is a significant difference between pre test and post test attitude scores (t=29.85, df=t39), there is a significant difference between pre test and post test practice scores (t=5.48, df=t39), there is no significant association between knowledge, attitude and practice scores with selected demographic variables. ISSN:2347-6567 International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research (IJAMSCR)
Deelip S N et al / Int. J. of Allied Med. Sci. and Clin. Research Vol-5(1) 2017 [80-88]
81
Conclusion
The study concludes that mothers having poor knowledge, attitude and practice regarding prevention of malnutrition among preschool children. Planned teaching programme is a helpful method for improving mothers knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers.
Keywords
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References
[2]. World Health Organization. The World health Organization’s infant-feeding recommendations. Bull. WHO 73, 1995, 165-174.
[3]. Brown, K., Dewey, K., & Allen, L. Complementary Feeding of Young Children in Developing Countries: A Review of Current Scientific Knowledge. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland 1998.
[4]. Ruel M.T. & Menon P. Child Feeding Practices are associated with child nutritional status in Latin America: Innovative uses of the Demographic and Health Surveys. J. Nutr. 132, 2002, 1180-1187.
[5]. Victora, C. G., Smith, P. G., Vaughan, J. P., Lombardi, C., Teixeira, A.M.B. & Fuchs, C. Infant Feeding and Deaths due to Diarrhea. A Case-control Study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 129, 1989, 1032–1041.
[6]. Marquis, G. S., Habicht, J.-P., Lanata, C. F., Black, R. E. & Rasmussen, K. M. Breast milk or animal-product foods improve linear growth of Peruvian toddlers consuming marginal diets. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 66, 1997, 1102–1109.
[7]. Popkin, B. M., Adair, L., Akin, J. S., Black, R., Briscoe, J. & Flieger, W. Breast-feeding and Diarrhea Morbidity. Pediatrics 86, 1990, 874–882.
[8]. World Health Organization. The World health Organization’s Conclusions on Indicators for Assessing Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices. Bull. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland 2007.