Determinants of appropriate child health and nutrition practices among women in rural Gambia
Determinants of appropriate child health and nutrition practices among women in rural Gambia
Health education and awareness involves providing knowledge about causes of illness and choices to promote a change in individual behaviour and, thus, improves survival of individuals. Studies have, however, shown that improved knowledge and awareness is not always translated into appropriate actions. This study aimed at exploring the factors determining mothers' choices of appropriate child health and nutrition practices in the Gambia. Eight focus-group discussions (FGDs) were held with 63 women whose children had been seen at the Keneba MRC Clinic within the 12 months preceding the study. The FGDs were analyzed using a thematic framework. Gender inequality, presence or absence of support networks, alternative explanatory models of malnutrition, and poverty were identified as the main factors that would determine the ability of a mother to practise what she knows about child health and nutrition. The findings highlight the need to consider the broader social, cultural and economic factors, including the value of involving men in childcare, when designing nutritional interventions.
Adult, Attitude to Health, Child Nutrition Disorders/prevention & control, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Child, Preschool, Choice Behavior, Culture, Female, Focus Groups/methods, Gambia, Gender Identity, Health Behavior, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Mothers, Pilot Projects, Poverty, Rural Population, Social Support
167-72
Mwangome, Martha
cca8343a-7b64-4939-a62f-99d4ebae0ae0
Prentice, Andrew
6d3f4226-132a-4c4f-a36d-4aa684d9498b
Plugge, Emma
b64d2086-6cf2-4fae-98bf-6aafa3115b35
Nweneka, Chidi
f0933f58-9e8a-46b1-bae5-94c448aca4c8
23 April 2010
Mwangome, Martha
cca8343a-7b64-4939-a62f-99d4ebae0ae0
Prentice, Andrew
6d3f4226-132a-4c4f-a36d-4aa684d9498b
Plugge, Emma
b64d2086-6cf2-4fae-98bf-6aafa3115b35
Nweneka, Chidi
f0933f58-9e8a-46b1-bae5-94c448aca4c8
Mwangome, Martha, Prentice, Andrew, Plugge, Emma and Nweneka, Chidi
(2010)
Determinants of appropriate child health and nutrition practices among women in rural Gambia.
Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, 28 (2), .
(doi:10.3329/jhpn.v28i2.4887).
Abstract
Health education and awareness involves providing knowledge about causes of illness and choices to promote a change in individual behaviour and, thus, improves survival of individuals. Studies have, however, shown that improved knowledge and awareness is not always translated into appropriate actions. This study aimed at exploring the factors determining mothers' choices of appropriate child health and nutrition practices in the Gambia. Eight focus-group discussions (FGDs) were held with 63 women whose children had been seen at the Keneba MRC Clinic within the 12 months preceding the study. The FGDs were analyzed using a thematic framework. Gender inequality, presence or absence of support networks, alternative explanatory models of malnutrition, and poverty were identified as the main factors that would determine the ability of a mother to practise what she knows about child health and nutrition. The findings highlight the need to consider the broader social, cultural and economic factors, including the value of involving men in childcare, when designing nutritional interventions.
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Published date: 23 April 2010
Keywords:
Adult, Attitude to Health, Child Nutrition Disorders/prevention & control, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Child, Preschool, Choice Behavior, Culture, Female, Focus Groups/methods, Gambia, Gender Identity, Health Behavior, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Mothers, Pilot Projects, Poverty, Rural Population, Social Support
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 485244
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/485244
ISSN: 1606-0997
PURE UUID: 819f2c1d-f893-4851-9a96-e6f293d8811c
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Date deposited: 01 Dec 2023 17:46
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:57
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Author:
Martha Mwangome
Author:
Andrew Prentice
Author:
Chidi Nweneka
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