A study to determine factors influencing growth and development among children under five years old in Lusaka urban.

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine factors influencing growth and development among children under five years old in Lusaka Urban. Literature revealed that assessing mothers' knowledge about factors influencing growth and development in children under five and practice in care of children was necessary. This is because the number of malnourished under five children has drastically increased world wide and locally despite education being offered to mothers. The study used a non-experimental design and it is both qualitative and quantitative. The study was conducted in September 2002, using a random sampling method of 50 mothers whose under five children were admitted to A Block at UTH (AO4, AO6, AO7 and AO8). Data was collected using structured interview schedule. Data was analyzed manually and findings were presented in frequency tables and cross tabulation. The study revealed that 20 (46%) of the respondents were aged 15-25 years and 37 (74%) of mothers were married at an early age (15 - 25 years). The findings also showed that the majority of the respondents 26 (52%) had only primary educational level of whom 26 (52%) had only informal business.