Effect of Nutrition Education Intervention on Knowledge Attitude and practice of mothers/caregivers on infant and young child feeding in Shabelle (Gode) Zone, Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia

• Main Authors: Abdi Guled, Rashid, Mamat, Nik Mazlan, Balachew, Tefera, Mohd. Abu Bakar, Wan Azdie, Assefa, Nega
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IIUM Press, International Islamic University Malaysia 2018
• Subjects: R Medicine (General); RM216 Diet Therapy. Clinical Nutrition
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/65010/1/65010_Effect%20of%20Nutrition%20Education%20Intervention.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/65010/; http://journals.iium.edu.my/revival/index.php/revival/article/view/221/185

Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding is very important for their health, growth and development. The impact of long term nutrition education intervention on child feeding in underprivileged community is not well documented. Therefore, this study was designed to document the effect of nutrition education intervention on knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers/caregivers towards optimal infants and young child feeding in Shabelle Zone of Somali Region. With regards to the materials and the methods, a randomized controlled trial study was conducted in August, 2015. Data were collected from 404 participants, after eight months of nutrition education intervention. SPSS version 20 software were used. A Chi-square and Fishers exact tests for categorical variables, and t-test for continues variables were used. Out of the total 415 participants assessed at baseline study, 404 were secured in the post intervention study. The majority (>80%) of the participants in both groups were illiterate, and housewives. The intervention group had shown statistical significant improvement in knowledge, attitude and practice of the mothers/caregivers (p<0.05) compared to control group in all tests; independent sample t-test mean score difference of the difference (p<0.001), and paired sample t-test mean score in intervention group (p<0.001). At the end, the nutrition education intervention was found effective in improving mothers/caregivers behaviours related to child feeding practices. Therefore, nutrition education intervention should be further scaled up and adapted to other areas in the Region. Makanan bagi bayi optimal dan kanak-kanak sangat penting untuk kesihatan, pertumbuhan dan perkembangan. Impak intervensi pendidikan pemakanan jangka panjang terhadap pemakanan kanak-kanak di komuniti miskin tidak didokumenkan dengan baik. Oleh itu, kajian ini direka bentuk untuk mendokumenkan kesan intervensi pendidikan nutrisi terhadap pengetahuan, sikap dan amalan ibu/penjaga terhadap bayi optimal dan pemakanan kanak-kanak di Shabelle Zone of Somalia Region. Berhubung dengan bahan dan kaedah, kajian percubaan kawal rawak telah dijalankan pada bulan Ogos, 2015. Data dikumpul dari 404 peserta, selepas lapan bulan intervensi pendidikan pemakanan. Perisian SPSS versi 20 telah digunakan. Ujian tepat Chi-square dan Fishers untuk pembolehubah kategori, dan ujian t untuk pemboleh ubah berterusan digunakan. Dari jumlah 415 peserta yang dinilai pada kajian dasar, 404 telah diperolehi dalam kajian intervensi selepas itu. Majoriti (> 80%) peserta dalam kedua-dua kumpulan adalah buta huruf, dan suri rumah. Kumpulan intervensi menunjukkan peningkatan statistik dalam pengetahuan, sikap dan amalan ibu/penjaga (p<0.05) berbanding kumpulan kawalan dalam semua ujian; Ujian t-ujian sampel bebas mempunyai perbezaan (p<0.001), dan skor pasangan ujian t-sampel yang bersamaan dengan kumpulan intervensi (p<0.001). Pada akhirnya, intervensi pendidikan pemakanan adalah berkesan dalam memperbaiki tingkah laku ibu/penjaga yang berkaitan dengan amalan pemakanan kanak-kanak. Oleh itu, intervensi pendidikan nutrisi perlu ditingkatkan dan disesuaikan dengan kawasan di wilayah lain.