Child Care Practices and Nutritional Status of Young Children Admitted at Gaalkacyo General Hospital, Somalia

Abstract

More than 34% of Somali children are in need of treatment for acute malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition rates, food insecurity limited livelihoods strategies have remained persistently high throughout Somalia (Somaliland, Puntland, and South-Central Somalia) varying according to zone and livelihood system. Recent studies have indicated that underlying causes, such as: lack of diet diversity, inadequate young child feeding patterns, improper hygiene practices, water and sanitation not utilizing health and education facilities are also major causes of continuous under nutrition. The objective of this study was to determine childcare practices of mothers/caregivers and nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months attending Gaalkacyo General Hospital-Somalia. A total of 169 respondents were randomly recruited for the study. A restructured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics data, dietary patterns was obtained using food frequency and 24-hour dietary intake and nutrition status was assessed using anthropometric data. Majority of the caregivers were aged 26-35 years (35.5 %), nearly 14.2% were aged 46-49 and small percentage (4.1%) of caregivers were 15-20 years old. Diet restriction was a common practice. The food avoided when child has diarrhea were milk and milk products (27.2%), porridge 10.1%, fruits/fruits juices 4.1% and foods cooked with oil 3.0%. About 64.5% of the children breast fed 8-12 times per a day. While 18.3% of the under-fives were breast fed 4-8 times per a day and 17.2% 4-6 times per a day. Almost all (95.9%) of respondents/caregivers were breastfeeding and gave colostrum to the children. At the time of the study, half of the. of the children (56.8%) were still breastfeeding. The duration of breastfeeding ranged within 21 months (minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 27 months. The mean breastfeeding duration was 19.3 ±5.5 months. All the children (100%) were weaned between 2 months and 6 months. The mean exclusive breastfeeding duration was 4.9± 1.3. The prevalence of wasting was found to be 32.3%, stunting 33.3, and underweight 32.3%.in children under-fives years from the study population. Positive correlation was found to exist between the child’s age and wasting(r=0.074). There was a significant difference between proportion of the children who were underweight and not underweight (p=0.014), stunted and not stunted (p=0.047). Children under-fives attending Gaalkacyo General Hospital were between 4 to five times likely to be malnourished the mother’s education level correlated to the children’s nutritional status with wasting at r=0.064, stunting r=-0.030 and underweight r=-0. 047. There was strong correlation between household sizes and nutritional status with underweight being the highest at r=0.84, wasting at r=0.021 and stunting r=-0. 079. Children’s imbalanced diet correlated and significantly associated with underweight (r=0.018, p=0.012). Majority of the children (84.6%) eat Vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables and white tubers and roots (81.1%), other vegetables and fruits were 63.3%, iron rich foods intakes by 52.1%. Flesh meats consumed by 59.2% while the consumption of cereals was highest from grains, and eggs (54.4%). The many cases of wasting, stunting, and underweight are not limited to one gender as both male and female children are equally at risk of getting malnourished. The study area had water availability constraint, and water treatment was used as a purification mechanism to achieve safety of the water. Conclusively, there is need for hygiene and sanitation practices to be taught at health centers more often especially for those who have children under the age of five. Institution-based training and community-based sensitization on the importance of children vaccination. Health institutions to have a follow-up plan for all the mothers attending antenatal clinic to curb defaulting. This will help in keeping in track with the mother’s nutritional status that can affect the birth outcome of the child. Training of caregivers on the introduction and practice of mixed feeding should also be done. This should be extended to the young child feeding practice when the child is unwell