KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE ON NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS AMONG MOTHERS ATTENDING MAKINDYE MILITARY POLICE HEALTH CENTRE III, KAMPALA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nutritional requirements of children under five years among mothers attending Makindye Military Police Health Center lll, Kampala district.

 Methodology

The study employed a cross-sectional study to address the specific objectives where quantitative and qualitative approach was used to collect data in a short period at Makindye Military Police Health Centre III, Kampala district.

 Results

This study documented that (92%) of the respondents had ever heard about nutritional requirements, (55%) obtained information about it from healthy facility,(93%) reported to know the meaning of exclusive breast feeding, (52%) knew breast feeding on demand,(70%) knew the stopping breast feeding at one year and above,(57%) reported feeding a child three times a day, (83%) knew the relevancy of adding fruits and vegetables on meals, (57%) knew that complementary feeds are introduced after 6 months (57%) preferring diet diversity, (77%) felt its right to exclusively breast feed a child for first 6 months (85%) with good attitude towards balanced diet  (58%) feeling bad upon seeing a malnourished child (68%) stopping breastfeeding at 2 years, (70%) think fruits and vegetables are a must daily, (45%) would introduce complementary feeds at (4-6) months ,(65%) exclusively breast fed  their children for first 6 months of life,(35%) had breast fed their children for 1 years and (60%) feeding child 3 times a day.

 Conclusion

Women had good knowledge and attitude with poor practices towards nutritional requirements of children under five years even though fair practices.

 Recommendation

MOH, NGOs, and other stakeholders should train an adequate number of service providers and health extension workers on health educating the community about the nutritional requirements of children under five years.