Is competence enough to enable Kenyan mothers to make good infant and young child feeding decisions?
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Date
2017
Authors
Schneider, Lauriina
Ollila, Sari
Kimiywe, Judith
Lubeka, Crippina
Mutanen, Marja
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with maternal infant and young child
feeding motivation in urban and rural Kenya. We conducted 18 focus group discussions with
mothers of children 0 to 23 months of age and healthcare workers. The data were transcribed,
translated, and explored following the principles of content analysis. We first explored and coded
the data inductively and categorized it according to emerging themes representing the most
relevant topics for young child feeding. After this, these themes were theorized into an explanatory
framework. Finally, the results yielded seven themes integrated into self‐determination
theory’s three basic motivation‐building pillars: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We
found that maternal intrahousehold autonomy on child feeding was substantial. However, this
autonomy was lost for a period of time while in close contact with the healthcare staff. The
authority of the healthcare workers was at its peak when the child was born and faded gradually
as the child grew. Building maternal competence is important for child‐feeding outcomes, but our
data showed that the health education methods used by the healthcare workers were inadequate
to improve maternal to improve the motivation. The competence of Kenyan healthcare workers
should be improved in the area of complementary feeding counseling, and they should be trained
to provide practical and emotional support as a way of increasing maternal motivation on infant
and child feeding.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Competence, Feeding practices, Kenya, Maternal autonomy, Self‐determination theory, Social support
Citation
Schneider L, Ollila S, Kimiywe J, Lubeka C, Mutanen M. Is competence enough to enable Kenyan mothers to make good infant and young child feeding decisions? Matern Child Nutr. 2017;e12422. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/mcn.12422