Knowledge and practice of nursing mothers, caretakers in the prevention of malnutrition in under five children at Mansa general hospital.

Abstract

Malnutrition remains as one of the causes of child morbidity and mortality in Zambia. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) is a strategy that is being used to address management of common childhood illnesses. Malnutrition is a serious public health problem that has worsened over the years. The aim of this research was to ascertain the knowledge and practices of mothers/caretakers in the prevention of malnutrition in the under five children. The objectives of the study were to establish the level of knowledge that mothers have in relation to prevention of malnutrition, to determine the mother’s practices towards prevention of malnutrition in under five children, to establish the relationship between knowledge and practice of mothers/caretakers in the prevention of malnutrition in under five children and to determine the factors that influence knowledge and practice of mothers in Mansa towards prevention of malnutrition.