Effectiveness of nutrition education program on mothers knowledge towards breast-feeding and weaning practices of children in Omdurman Pediatric Hospital

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education program on mothers’ knowledge towards breast-feeding and weaning practices of children in Omdurman Pediatric Hospital. The quasi - experimental study conducted. The study consisted of all (100) mothers of under-five malnourished children, with a diagnosis of severe protein energy malnutrition (Marasmus, Kwashiorkor and Mrasmic Kwashiorkor). Pretest data were collected as the base line information about breast-feeding, weaning, and analyzed. After that, nutrition and health education program prepared to mothers of children in hospital, two times per week during the study. Posttest questionnaire took place after that to identify the results of the program. Data collected analyzed by percentages. Then data before and after program were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Program, chi-Square was used to determine the significance of the differences (P≤ 0.05). Results revealed that, before nutrition education, 64% of mothers, their weaning practice were stop abruptly; 31 % of the mothers introduced complementary foods at right time, only 3% of their mother’s knowledge about weaning foods. After nutrition education program, 84% of mothers stated that the best situation of weaning practices methods were gradual weaning, 79% of the mothers knew the right time to introduce complementary foods and 91% of their mother had knowledge about weaning foods. The study recommended that it is important for raising awareness on breast-feeding and weaning among mothers of malnourishment children by community leadership. Coordination among sectors supports decision-making and prioritization.