Abstract:
Malnutrition is a problem facing virtually every country in the world.
Inappropriate feeding practices such as bottle feeding, early introduction of
weaning foods, lack of variety in the diet are a known major cause of the onset
of malnutrition in young children. Lack of nutrition knowledge, particularly
about feeding practices, is critical as it affects the nutritional status of children.
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of caregivers’
nutrition knowledge and feeding practices on the nutritional status of 2 to 5
years old children in the Makhuduthamaga Municipality, South Africa. A crosssectional
study with an analytical component was carried out in the
Makhuduthamaga Municipality in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. One
hundred and twenty children aged 2 to 5 years and their caregivers were
conveniently sampled from four villages. A validated questionnaire was used
to gather demographic information, caregivers’ nutritional knowledge and
feeding practices. Anthropometric measurements taken were weight, height
and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of the children as well as weight
and height of the caregivers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized.
Chi-square was used to determine the influence of caregiver’s nutrition
knowledge and feeding practices on the nutritional status of children. The
significance level was set at p< 0.05.
Most caregivers (66.7%) were between the ages of 19 and 35 years. More
than half (54.2%) of the children were male. Most of the caregivers (70%) had
attended school up to secondary level and only 4.2% had obtained a tertiary
qualification. Most of the caregivers (85%) were unemployed. Children were
mostly (70.2%) cared for by their biological mothers. Some caregivers
reported not to have any source of nutrition education (41.7%), while 43.3%
reported that health professionals were their source of nutrition education.
Both nutrition knowledge and feeding practices were not satisfactory in the
current study. Almost all children (94.2%) were breastfed at some stage in
their lives. However, 47.5% were given infant formula while they were still less
than six months old. It was found that more than half of the caregivers (62.5%)
introduced solids foods before 6 months.
Maize meal soft porridge was reported as the main solid food first introduced
to 66.7% of the children, followed by infant cereals (25%). Stunting was found
in 41.7% of children. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed
amongst both caregivers and children. Overweight and obesity prevalent of
caregivers was at 30.8%. No significant correlation was observed between the
caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, the feeding practices and the nutritional status
of children. However, family income showed positive correlation with the
nutritional status of children. Nutrition education strategies intertwined with
economic empowerment of mothers should be enforced to capacitate
caregivers to voluntarily make proper feeding practices.
