Nutritional counselling interactions between health workers and caregivers of children under two years: observations at selected child welfare clinics in Ghana

The role of child nutrition counselling, gender dynamics, and intra-household feeding decision-making on child dietary diversity in semi-arid northern Ghana

Every child has the right to proper nutrition. As such, child nutrition counselling is recommended to improve child dietary diversity and reduce malnutrition. However, there is limited empirical evidence on how child nutrition counselling, gender dynamics, and intra-household feeding decisions play a role and translate to child dietary diversity in rural contexts. Informed by theoretical conceptions from Health Belief Model (HBM) and Gender and Development (GAD) framework, we analyzed cross-sectional data from 517 smallholder households in Ghana's semi-arid Upper West Region to investigate the relationship between child nutrition counselling, gender dynamics, intra-household feeding decision-making, and their impact on child dietary diversity. Results from ordered logistic regression show that households that received child nutrition counselling reported higher child dietary diversity. Joint intra-household feeding decisions were associated with higher child dietary diversity. Households with good self-rated childcare, engaged in home gardening, and higher wealth, as well as those in the Waala ethnic group, were more likely to have high child dietary diversity. A decrease in household head age was linked to increased high child dietary diversity. On the other hand, female-headed households, Brifo ethnic groups, and those in the Wa East and Wa West districts were less likely to experience high child dietary diversity. Implementing interventions and policies prioritizing nutrition education in the Upper West Region and similar sub-Saharan African contexts is recommended. Strategies like scaling up child nutrition counselling, food demonstrations, mother-to-mother support nutrition outreach, and mobile nutrition clinics can empower women and improve children's well-being.

Knowledge, attitude and purchasing behavior of Saudi mothers towards food additives and dietary pattern of preschool children

Background

There are over 506 children's products containing one or more types of additives. Maternal awareness of these additives is essential for the health of preschool-aged children, as this period is vital for children's growth and development. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and purchasing behaviors related to food additives among mothers living in the western region of Saudi Arabia, as well as the dietary patterns of preschool children.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey with a convenience sample of 521 mothers of preschool-aged children (3-5 years old). The survey gathered data on the child's age, number of children, the youngest child's weight and height, food intolerance, tooth decay, as well as the dietary patterns of preschool children. It also assessed the mother's knowledge, attitude, and purchasing behaviors related to food additives.

Results

The study found that 46.6% of mothers demonstrated good knowledge of food additives, while 56.0% demonstrated fair attitudes and 78.5% good purchasing behavior regarding additives. Additionally, the majority of mothers reported favorable dietary patterns for their preschool-aged children. "Biscuits and crackers" had the highest consumption frequency (4.98 ± 1.50), with 36.7% of children consuming them once daily, while "Soft beverages" had the lowest consumption frequency (2.73 ± 2.04), with 46.6% of children never consuming them. Statistically significant differences were identified between mothers' knowledge and their age, education level, occupation status, and economic status (p < 0.05). ANOVA results also indicated a statistically significant difference between mothers' attitudes and occupation status (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between mothers' knowledge of food additives and their attitudes (r = 0.293) and purchasing behaviors (r = 0.284) related to additives.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that mothers possess a relatively good level of knowledge of food additives and hold fair attitudes toward them, tending to result in healthier purchasing behaviors and dietary practices for their preschool-aged children. To increase awareness, nutrition intervention programs are required across various socio-economic groups of mothers in the western region of Saudi Arabia. These programs can significantly contribute to promoting healthier dietary practices for preschool-aged children and improving overall family health and well-being.

Effect of nutrition assessment, counselling and support integration on mother-infant nutritional status, practices and health in Tororo and Butaleja districts, Uganda: A comparative non-equivalent quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition remains a health challenge for women aged 15 to 49 years and their infants. While Nutrition Assessment Counselling and Support (NACS) is considered a promising strategy, evidence of its effectiveness remains scanty. This study assessed the effect of the comprehensive NACS package on the mother-infant practices, health and nutrition outcomes in two districts in Eastern Uganda.

METHODS

A comparative non-equivalent quasi-experimental design was employed with two groups; Comprehensive NACS (Tororo) and Routine NACS (Butaleja). Pregnant mothers were enrolled spanning various trimesters and followed through the antenatal periods and post-delivery to monitor their health and nutrition status. Infants were followed for feeding practices, health and nutritional status at birth and weeks 6, 10, 14 and at months 6, 9 and 12 post-delivery. Propensity score matching ensured study group comparability. The NACS effect was estimated by nearest neighbour matching and the logistic regression methods. Statistical analysis utilised STATA version 15 and R version 4.1.1.

RESULTS

A total of 666/784 (85%) with complete data were analysed (routine: 412, comprehensive: 254). Both groups were comparable by mothers' age, Mid Upper Arm Circumference, prior antenatal visits, meal frequency, micronutrient supplementation and instances of maternal headache, depression and diarrhoea. However, differences existed in gestation age, income, family size, education and other living conditions. Comprehensive NACS infants exhibited higher infant birth weights, weight-for-age z-scores at the 3rd -6th visits (p < 0.001), length-for-age z scores at the 4th -7th visits (p < 0.001) and weight-for-length z-scores at the 3rd - 5th (p < = 0.001) visits. Despite fewer episodes of diarrhoea and fever, upper respiration infections were higher.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive NACS demonstrated improved mother-infant nutritional and other health outcomes suggesting the need for integrated and holistic care for better maternal, infant and child health.

The impact of growth monitoring and promotion on health indicators in children under five years of age in low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

Undernutrition in the critical first 1000 days of life is the most common form of childhood malnutrition, and a significant problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The effects of undernutrition in children aged under five years are wide-ranging and include increased susceptibility to and severity of infections; impaired physical and cognitive development, which diminishes school and work performance later in life; and death. Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is a complex intervention that comprises regular measurement and charting of growth combined with promotion activities. Policymakers, particularly in international aid agencies, have differing and changeable interpretations and perceptions of the purpose of GMP. The effectiveness of GMP as an approach to preventing malnutrition remains a subject of debate, particularly regarding the added value of growth monitoring compared with promotion alone.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of child growth monitoring and promotion for identifying and addressing faltering growth, improving infant and child feeding practices, and promoting contact with and use of health services in children under five years of age in low- and middle-income countries.

SEARCH METHODS

We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 3 November 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and controlled before-after studies that compared GMP with standard care or nutrition education alone in non-hospitalised children aged under five years.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods to conduct a narrative synthesis. Our primary outcomes were anthropometric indicators, infant and child feeding practices, and health service usage. Secondary outcomes were frequency and severity of childhood illnesses, and mortality. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each primary outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

We included six studies reported in eight publications. We grouped the findings according to intervention. Community-based growth monitoring and promotion (without supplementary feeding) versus standard care We are unsure if GMP compared to standard care improves infant and child feeding practices, as measured at 24 months by the proportion of infants who have fluids other than breast milk introduced early (49.7% versus 70.5%; 1 study; 4296 observations; very low-certainty evidence). We are unsure if GMP improves health service usage, as measured at 24 months by the proportion of children who receive vitamin A (72.5% versus 62.9%; 1 study; 4296 observations; very low-certainty evidence) and the proportion of children who receive deworming (29.2% versus 14.6%; 1 study; 4296 observations; very low-certainty evidence). No studies reported selected anthropometric indicators (weight-for-age z-score or height-for-age z-score) at 12 or 24 months, infant and child feeding practices at 12 months, or health service usage at 12 months. Community-based growth monitoring and promotion (with supplementary feeding) versus standard care Two studies (with 569 participants) reported the mean weight-for-age z-score at 12 months, providing very low-certainty evidence: in one study, there was little or no difference between GMP and standard care (mean difference (MD) -0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.19 to 0.06); in the other study, mean weight-for-age z-score worsened in both groups, but we were unable to calculate a relative effect. GMP versus standard care may make little to no difference to the mean height-for-age z-score at 12 months (MD -0.15, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.04; 1 study, 337 participants; low-certainty evidence). Two studies (with 564 participants) reported a range of outcome measures related to infant and child feeding practices at 12 months, showing little or no difference between the groups (very low-certainty evidence). No studies reported health service usage at 12 or 24 months, feeding practices at 24 months, or selected anthropometric indicators at 24 months.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is limited uncertain evidence on the effectiveness of GMP for identifying and addressing faltering growth, improving infant and child feeding practices, and promoting contact with and use of health services in children aged under five years in LMICs. Future studies should explore the reasons for the apparent limited impact of GMP on key child health indicators. Reporting of GMP interventions and important outcomes must be transparent and consistent.

Growth Monitoring and Promotion Index Development: A Novel Approach

BACKGROUND

There are few growth monitoring and promotion indexes, and currently none of them include any metrics that measure caregiver behaviours. No index to date combines the metrics of both community health worker activeness and caregiver barriers and facilitators towards growth monitoring and promotion (GMP). This study developed a new growth monitoring and promotion index and validated it using the Delphi Technique.

METHODS

The study began with phase 1, which was a scoping review of the literature on GMP indexes. Phase 2 involved a community health worker (CHW) survey which explored the process of GMP within the Umguza health system, and determined how knowledge of GMP by CHWs translated to frequency of activities. A barrier analysis was also conducted with caregivers of children under five to determine the barriers and facilitators towards GMP attendance by caregivers. Phase 3 was the construction of the index along with its validation, using the Delphi Technique where fifteen experts within the health and nutrition sector were consulted to analyse the constructs/variables of the index.

RESULTS

A growth monitoring and promotion index was developed and validated by several technical experts in the health and nutrition sector in Zimbabwe.

CONCLUSIONS

A new index has been developed to improve the quality of growth monitoring and promotion activities within the communities.

Influence of the Quality of Antenatal Care on Early Breastfeeding Initiation and Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Haitian Women

OBJECTIVE

To assess the influence of the quality of antenatal care on early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among Haitian women.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional household survey.

SETTING

Haiti Demographic and Health Survey, 2016 to 2017.

PARTICIPANTS

Women (N = 2,489) who were 15 to 49 years of age with children younger than 24 months of age.

METHODS

We used multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis to examine the independent associations between quality of antenatal care and early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding.

RESULTS

The prevalence of early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding were 47.7% and 39.9%, respectively. Approximately 76.0% of the participants received intermediate antenatal care. The odds of early breastfeeding initiation were greater among participants who received antenatal care of intermediate quality than among those who did not receive antenatal care, adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.13, 2.20]. Additionally, maternal age of 35 to 49 years (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI [1.10, 2.12]) was positively associated with early breastfeeding initiation. Factors negatively associated with early breastfeeding initiation were cesarean birth (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.12, 0.42]), birth at home (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.34, 0.96]), and birth in a private facility (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI [0.34, 0.96]). Factors negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding were employment (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI [0.36, 0.90]) and birth in a private facility (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI [0.08, 0.52]).

CONCLUSION

Antenatal care of intermediate quality was positively associated with early breastfeeding initiation among women in Haiti, which highlights the influence that care during pregnancy can have on breastfeeding outcomes.

Attitudes of Caregivers of Children under Five Years Regarding Growth Monitoring and Promotion in Polokwane, Limpopo Province

Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is critical in tracking child growth to address widespread malnutrition and health status. Attitudes influence behaviour change, including attendance of GMP, and negative attitudes are linked to non-attendance. Moreover, negative attitudes correlate with low socioeconomic position. South Africa is characterized by inequality, which may lead to negative attitudes towards GMP among caregivers with a poor socioeconomic status. Hence, this study seeks to explore the attitudes of caregivers of children under five towards GMP. A qualitative exploratory study design was used. Caregivers of children under five were purposively sampled. Twenty-three participants were interviewed one-on-one, and the data were recorded using voice recorders and field notes. Tesch's eight steps and inductive, descriptive, and open coding techniques were used to analyse the data. Participants understood the significance of GMP and were confident their children would benefit from it; hence, they attended sessions out of love for their children. The inconsistent availability of GMP services and the behaviour of health workers affected participants' attitude. Despite these challenges, participants felt good about GMP. Caregivers' love for their children/grandchildren helped them overcome challenges experienced at the health facilities. Good feelings about GMP boosted caregivers' attitudes and aided in adherence. An intervention to address element impacting attitudes of caregivers is recommended.

Integrating Nutrition Actions in Service Delivery: The Practices of Frontline Workers in Uganda

BACKGROUND

Integrating nutrition actions into service delivery in different policy sectors is an increasing concern. Nutrition literature recognizes the discrepancies existing between policies as adopted and actual service delivery. This study applies a street-level bureaucracy (SLB) perspective to understand frontline workers' practices that enact or impede nutrition integration in services and the conditions galvanizing them.

METHODS

This qualitative exploratory study assesses the contextual conditions and practices of 45 frontline workers employed by the agriculture, health and community development departments in two Ugandan districts.

RESULTS

Frontline workers incur different demands and resources arising at societal, organizational, and individual level. Hence, they adopt nine co-existing practices that ultimately shape nutrition service delivery. Nutrition integration is accomplished through: (1) ritualizing task performance; (2) bundling with established services; (3) scheduling services on a specific day; and (4) piggybacking on services in other domains. Disintegration results from (5) non-involvement and (6) shifting blame to other entities. Other practices display both integrative and disintegrative effects: (7) creaming off citizens; (8) down prioritization by fixating on a few nutrition actions; and (9) following the bureaucratic 'jobs worth'. Integrative practices are driven mostly by donors.

CONCLUSION

Understanding frontline workers' practices is crucial for identifying policy solutions to sustain nutrition improvements. Sustaining services beyond timebound projects necessitates institutionalizing demands and resources within government systems. Interventions to facilitate effective nutrition service delivery should strengthen the integrative capacities of actors across different government levels. This includes investing in integrative leadership, facilitating frontline workers across sectors to provide nutrition services, and adjusting the nutrition monitoring systems to capture cross-sector data and support policy learning.

Child growth monitoring and promotion practice and associated factors among health care workers at public health facilities in south Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

Background

Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is one of the health care priorities to assess and follow the growth pattern of children under 2 years old. Appropriate GMP services enable health care workers to control growth faltering early and child mortality. However, there is limited information showing the practice and associated factors of GMP service among health care workers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the practice and identify associated factors of GMP service among health care workers at public health facilities of the South Wollo Zone, northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 397 randomly selected health care workers in the South Wollo Zone, northeast Ethiopia, from May 25 to July 7, 2020. A pretested self-administered questionnaire and in-depth interview were used to collect the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Quantitative data were entered using Epi data Version 3.1 and exported to statistical software for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software for further analysis. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with GMP practice. Statistical tests at a P value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval were taken as a cutoff point to determine the statistical significance. Qualitative data were analyzed by using thematic analysis.

Results

In this study, the proportion of GMP practice among health care workers was 58.4% (95% CI: 54.0–63.0). Being a holder of first degree (AOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.01, 5.05), being a holder of a diploma (AOR = 3.52; 95% CI: 2.04, 6.09), work experience with GMP (AOR = 3.13; 95% CI: 1.58, 6.20), receiving GMP training (AOR = 4.83; 95% CI: 2.89, 8.06), availability of GMP equipment (AOR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.64, 4.58) and having a positive attitude toward GMP (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI: 2.23, 6.17) were factors significantly associated with GMP practice.

Conclusions and recommendations

The proportion of GMP practice among health care workers was still low. Educational level, work experience with GMP, GMP training, GMP equipment and attitude toward GMP were positively associated with GMP practice. Availability of GMP equipment brings positive attitudes toward GMP, and GMP training for health care workers with less experience should be strengthened to improve GMP practice.

Use of a mHealth Approach for the Training of Health-care Providers on Nutrition Counseling in a Malnutrition Clinic

BACKGROUND: The use of mobile phones as job aides is one of the most innovative mHealth applications for community health professionals. However, few studies indicated an influence of mHealth on clinical outcomes in low-income countries. AIM: Therefore, the researchers conducted the present study to assess the impact of providing updated training packages using mobile technology to service providers on the knowledge of children’s caregivers and the quality of performance of service providers. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre-posttest of separate samples was conducted in a malnutrition clinic. The total sample size was 400 cases (200 caregivers as a pre-intervention group [pre-IG] and 200 caregivers as a post-intervention group [post-IG]), with inclusion criteria of having their children 6–24 months old. The study interventions composed of five activities: Orientation sessions on nutrition counseling for physicians and nurses, a software (e-health) program loaded in e-tablet to be used during nutrition counseling by physicians, a booklet on proper infant and child feeding, conducting on-the-job training for the nurses, and establishing counseling cycle in the clinic. RESULTS: After the study intervention, the total knowledge score for all items of children’s nutrition increased from 39% among pre-IG to be 80% among post-IG. The majority (more than 90%) of post-IG received four services packages. CONCLUSION: Participation of service providers in five articulating interventions for nutrition counseling contributes to improving the knowledge of children’s caregivers. Practice Implications: Using mobile technology improved the quality of nutrition care services delivered in the malnutrition clinic.

Evaluation of the child growth monitoring programme in two Zimbabwean provinces

Background

The child growth monitoring (CGM) programme is an important element of nutrition programmes, and when combined with other child health programmes, it can assist in successful management and control of malnutrition in children.

Aim

This study aimed to assess the extent to which the CGM programme is able to identify instances of childhood malnutrition and how much this contributes towards malnutrition reduction in Zimbabwe.

Setting

The study was conducted in Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces of Zimbabwe. The two provinces were purposively selected for having the highest and least proportion of children affected by stunting in the country.

Methods

The CGM programme in Zimbabwe was evaluated using the logic model to assess the ability of the programme to identify growth faltering and link children to appropriate care.

Results

Records from 60 health facilities were reviewed. Interviews were conducted with 60 nurses, 100 village health workers (VHWs) and 850 caregivers (300 health facility exit interviews, 450 community based). Nearly all (92%) health facilities visited had functional measuring scales. Twelve health facilities (20%) had no functional height board, with five using warped height boards for measuring children’s height. Less than a quarter (21%) of the children had complete records for weight for age and height for age. A large proportion of children eligible for admission for the management of moderate (83%) and severe malnutrition (84%) were missed.

Conclusion

The CGM programme in Zimbabwe is not well equipped for assessing child height for age and management of children identified with malnutrition, thus failing to timely identify and manage childhood stunting.

Maternal and health care workers' perspectives on exclusive breastfeeding in the context of maternal HIV infection, in Busia county, western Kenya: a mixed methods cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months with maternal active antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. However, EBF in low resource settings remains low. We explored perspectives of EBF by HIV-infected mothers and health care workers in Busia County with a high prevalence of HIV to understand factors influencing the practice.

METHODS

A mixed methods cross-sectional survey using concurrent quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was conducted at PMTCT clinics. Data on socio-demography, young infant feeding practices, maternal and infant health was collected between February 2013 and August 2015 from 371 purposively sampled HIV-infected mother-infant dyads using a semi-structured questionnaire. Focus group discussions with mothers, in-depth interviews and passive observation of health care workers during interaction with mothers were conducted. Significance of difference between mothers practicing EBF or not was tested by Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests setting significance level at 5%. Qualitative data was coded and content analyzed to generate themes.

RESULTS

Three hundred and forty-nine (94%) mothers practiced EBF. Maternal comprehension of EBF to PMTCT of HIV influenced choice and practice of EBF (P value = 0.019 and < 0.001 respectively). Health care workers emphasized adherence to ART and offered nutritional supplementation during EBF. Health care workers' nutritional counseling in the context of maternal HIV was poor. Mentor mothers shared their experiences with mothers and offered live case demonstrations of their successfully EBF, healthy and HIV-uninfected children. The main threats to EBF were teenage motherhood, low maternal education and working during EBF.

CONCLUSIONS

EBF among HIV-infected mothers in Busia County, Kenya was high. Health education and counselling by health care workers, maternal comprehension of ART adherence to PMTCT of HIV, nutritional supplementation and mentor mothers' peer counseling using live case demonstrations of HIV-uninfected EBF children promoted and sustained practice of EBF for 6 months. Teenage motherhood, low maternal education and having to work threatened EBF.

Knowledge and Other Predictors of Child Welfare Clinic Completion among Children Aged 24-59 Months in the Garu-Tempane District of Northern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study of Caregivers

BACKGROUND

While completion of the Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) schedule for children remains a crucial factor in the prevention of illness and promotion of better child health, there has been low attendance among caregivers in Ghana. This study examined knowledge of 220 caregivers of children aged 24-59 months on CWC and other factors influencing attendance in the Garu-Tempane District of Northern Ghana.

METHODS

This health facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among caregivers of children using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics comprising frequency, percentage, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression were adopted in analysing the data.

RESULTS

Less than half (46.9%) of the children completed their CWC schedules. Meanwhile, caregivers' knowledge on CWC was 97.7%. Children aged 37-48 months (AOR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.21-0.86, p=0.017) and 49-59 months (AOR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.10-0.77, p=0.014), respectively, had lower odds of completing CWC. Children with caregivers not having any formal education also had lower odds of completing CWC (AOR = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.21-0.95, p=0.036).

CONCLUSION

Educational programmes on the importance of CWC completion should focus on caregivers with children aged 37 months and above and those caregivers with low educational level. It is further recommended that studies be conducted to explore the extent of association between caregivers' marital status, occupation, level of knowledge, and child CWC completion in the Garu-Tempane District.