Maternal health and nutritional status and Their association with nutritional status of Children (6-36 months) in slums of Mbarara Municipality, Uganda.
Abstract
Malnutrition is a multifaceted problem and among the underlying causes is maternal health
and nutritional status. The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Uganda is contributing to the
increaseof malnutrition.
The cross sectional descriptive study was aimed at establishing the relationship between
maternal characteristics (maternal health and nutritional status and the nutritional status) of
their children (6-36 months) in two settlements of Mbarara municipality , Uganda.
Information was collected using a structured questionnaire, and included information on
socio-demographic features, health status of the mother and child, and other maternal and
household characteristics, as well as anthropometric measurements of both mother and child.
Othermethods of data collection used, were observations and physical examination.
Atotal of 333 mothers (with their children (6-36 months) were interviewed. Methods of data
analysis used include chi-square, Pearsons' correlation and multiple regression.
Underweight among mothers was found to be 7% and the obese were 29.1%. Underweight
in children was 15%, stunting 32.8% and wasting was 2.1%. Maternal nutritional status was
positively and significantly associated with underweight and stunting (p<0.05); it was also
positivelybut not significantly associated with wasting (WHZ) (p> 0.05).
Predictors of stunting in children (HAZ) were found to be maternal nutritional status, child
immunisation status, household socio-economic status, and total education (of mother and
household head). Predictions of under weight in children CWAZ) were total education (of
mother and household head), maternal nutritional status (BMI), child immunisation status,
and availability of maternal free time. Wasting in children (WHZ), was found to be
predicted by only sanitation of the surroundings.
There was no evidence to show that maternal ill health has a negative effect on child
nutritional status. However, better maternal nutritional status had a positive impact on child
nutritional status.
It was recommended that programmes aimed at alleviating poverty so as to increase
household income should be initiated and supported. Income availability will ensure
accessibility to services, enable the mothers make independent and correct decisions regarding
their health & nutrition and that of their children.