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

Abstract

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 diarrhoea 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 wean-lings suffering from repeated attacks of diarrhoea and subsequent malnutrition. Socioeconomic factors such as low educational level, low wages and salaries, overcrowding in shanty compounds and homes and poor environmental sanitation were identified as the main contributory factors to the high incidence of diarrhoea and subsequent malnutrition.An interview schedule was used for collecting data from the subjects.The findings revealed that subjects were of a low socioeconomic 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. Furthermore they did not know what caused diarrhoea, consequently, they did not know what measures to take to prevent the disease. Their inability to practice what they were taught due to financial constraints and educational limitations was identified as a contributory factor to the repeated attacks of diarrhoea and subsequent malnutrition among wean-lings.