The relationship between recurrent diarrhoea and malnutrition in children at the weaning stage.

Abstract

The study was undertaken in Lusaka in the Paediatric Unit of the University Teaching Hospital in March 1986. The study sought to establish the relationship between recurrent diarrhoea and malnutrition in children at the weaning stage. Fifty (50) mothers of children admitted to hospital with diarrhoea and malnutrition and with a history of repeated diarrhoeal episodes were included in the sample.The literature was based on the feeding practices and the living conditions that may affect the mothers' feeding practices which may lead to weanlings suffering from repeated attacks of diarrhoea and subsequent malnutrition.The findings reveal that subjects were of a low socio-economic status with limited education. The results also show that the respondents lacked the knowledge on when, how and how often and what type of food to give to the wean-lings.