Browsing by Author "Cheloti, Nasambu Sophy"

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    Maternal Factors, Feeding Practices and Morbidity Status of Children Aged 0-6 Months Attending Kwanza Hospital’s Well-Baby Clinic, Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-06) Cheloti, Nasambu Sophy
    Good nutrition in early life is key to building the body’s immunity and good health in later years. For children aged 0- 6 months, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is widely advocated as the optimum practice with great benefits. In Kenya, 15% of children aged 0 to 6 months are on partial breastfeeding, 10% on mixed feeding and 10% on predominant breastfeeding. These sub-optimal feeding practices contribute to 11.6% of child morbidities. Numerous research has been done on feeding practices among older children (6-59 months), but there is minimal data on children aged 0 to 6 months who are assumed to be on EBF. In Kenya, every child under the age of five experiences diarrhea in a year, while malaria contributes up to 20% of child deaths in the country. Most studies have looked at health-seeking behavior and prevalence of a particular disease among the under-five population, with less focus on other co-morbidities that could be present in the 0 to 6 months age group. The purpose of this study was to determine the maternal factors, feeding practices and morbidity status of children aged 0 to 6 months, attending well baby clinic at Kwanza Hospital, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional analytical design. A sample size of 151 caregivers with their children aged 0 to 6 months was targeted. The respondents were selected using systematic sampling. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on maternal factors, feeding practices, morbidities, socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Two focus group discussions were conducted separately. Information on foods given, breastfeed initiation and maternal factors were obtained. Key informants comprised of community-based health care workers who gave information on maternal awareness and problems encountered while breastfeeding. SPSS software version 28 was used for data analysis, and descriptive statistics were employed. Chi- square test was used to establish associations between maternal factors and child’s breastfeeding status. Odds ratio was used to establish associations between maternal factors and breastfeeding frequency, maternal factors and use of prelacteal feeds. Correlation and linear regression were done to establish relationships and evaluate the strength of the relationships, respectively. Majority (63.5%) of the children under study were aged 0-3 months, close to half (43.9%) being female. Nearly a third (29.7%) of the caregivers were aged 25-29 years. More than half (52%) of the children were on EBF, over a quarter (26.2%) were given prelacteal feeds and nearly half (41.2%) were reported to have been sick. The findings revealed associations between mode of delivery with breastfeeding status (p value 0.0001), marital status with breastfeeding status, maternal illness with use of prelacteal feeds, morbidity status with monthly income. The study concludes that feeding practices among children aged 0-6 months were inadequate in relation to WHO standards. Nearly half of the children suffered from childhood morbidities. Breastfeeding status and frequency of breastfeeding are influenced by marital status of the caregiver. The study recommends health institutions to strengthen education on child feeding during child clinic visits, routine screening and prompt management of maternal illnesses during and after delivery.