THE INFLUENCE OF CAREGIVERS’ FORMAL AND NUTRITION LITERACY ON FEEDING PRACTISES AMONG CHILDREN AGED BELOW FIVE BORN TO ADOLESCENT GIRLS, IN NDHIWA, HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Child deaths are a serious health challenge in Kenya. Despite government efforts to curb this menace, deaths among children aged 5 and below are still in elevation. Previous studies associated these deaths to poor nutrition and preventable diseases while giving little focus on the role of caregivers in improving the nutritional status of the children as a way of reducing child mortality. The main objective of the study is to analyze the influence of caregivers’ formal and nutrition literacy on feeding practices of children born to adolescent girls in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County. In a study population of 1470 caregivers and 497 Community Health Volunteers, both Quantitative and Qualitative data was collected. Using Yamane’s formula, applicable for a finite population, 204 caregivers were systematically sampled. Descriptive statistics was utilized in analyzing quantitative data. Regression analysis and Chi square tests were used to identify the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Statistical significance was established using a p-value of <0.05. For Caregivers’ formal and nutrition literacy versus feeding practices by use of Chi-square test of independence, it was established that p=0.000 which was less than α=0.05 at 95% confidence interval. This implies existence of a significant relationship between caregivers’ formal and nutrition literacy and feeding practices of the under-fives. Formal and nutrition literacy play a big role in enhancing the nutritional status of under-fives. Both formal and nutrition literacy equips caregivers with better knowledge on feeding practices for the under-fives which is essential for healthy development.