Knowledge of mothers regarding infant feeding and nutritional status of under-five attending immunization clinics in Khartoum State – Sudan 2015

Abstract

Healthy eating and physical activity are essential for proper growth and development in
childhood. Nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of 5 years are attributable to under-nutrition.
The aim: of this study was to identify the knowledge of mothers regarding nutrition of under-fve children.
Methodology: the study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, facility-based study conducted at health
centers in Khartoum Locality. A total of 258 mothers of under-fve children were enrolled in the study.
Stratifed sampling technique was used to draw the intended sample size. Relevant data were collected
using structured questionnaire from the targeted children’s mothers. The questionnaire was pre-tested to
ensure its validity and was used to generate quantitative data. The collected data was then analyzed using
the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.
Results: Majority of mothers (46.5%) continued exclusive breast feeding up to the age of 6 months, and
about 47% of the mothers had fair knowledge about the contents of a well-balanced diet.
Conclusion: Most of the mothers continued breast feeding for 1- 2years.