Child Caregiver Knowledge on Infant and Young Child Nutrition in Urban and Rural Turbo Sub County, Uasin Gishu, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Globally stunting affects about one fifth of children less than five years with more than a third from Africa. It is said to occur in children when their linear growth (length/height) in relation to age is lower than minus two standard deviation. Its occurrence has been seen to be the first 1000 days of life from conception to 23 months of age resulting in poor brain, organ and bone development. Stunted children have high morbidity, mortality rates. Long term effects include reduced individual output and predisposition to chronic conditions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish child caregiver's knowledge on infant and young child nutrition for children less than two years in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County.

Method: Cross-sectional survey design was used for this study and two wards in Turbo Sub County were randomly selected. A sample size of 331 stunted children aged 0-23 months were recruited using multistage, systematic random sampling. The data was analysed using SPSS for windows version 20.

Results:  Most of the children at 92.1% were cared for by their biological mothers. Most caregivers listed breastmilk as the only food for children below 6 months at 80.9%, urban and 78.4%, rural though exclusive breastfeeding rates were at 40.3%. There was good knowledge on timely initiation of breastfeeding at 85.6% and for urban and 75% for rural care givers. Rural caregivers had better knowledge on timely introduction of complimentary foods than urban caregivers with χ² (P<0.001). Eggs was listed least as food for children 6-23 months at 3.7% urban and 4.3% rural. Caregivers had poor knowledge on meal frequency with a significant difference between rural and urban at χ² (P=0.033) and χ² (P=0.019) for 9-11 and 12-23 months respectively.

Conclusion: The study indicate caregivers are aware on how to feed children less than six months than children 6-23 months. The study thus recommends training of health workers and community health volunteers on infant and young child nutrition to enable them reach caregivers at both health facility and community level.