Using Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) in Assessing the Impact of Nutrition Education on Associated Nutrition and Health Outcomes in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Background: Health extension and nutrition education encourage healthy lifestyles for improved nutrition and health outcomes and overall productivity and economic development. However, there is a limited assessment of the impact of nutrition education on associated health and nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices in Ghana. This study evaluated the impact of access to nutrition information on household knowledge, attitudes and practices on nutrition and health outcomes in Northern region of Ghana Method: This study used primary data from a cross-sectional survey from 504 households in Northern region of Ghana. To establish the association between access to nutrition information and maternal KAP, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi square tests and Fisher’s exact test were used. Results: The results showed that 53.6% of women had a KAP score above the mean score on knowledge on nutrition related issues. Furthermore, 75.8% of women had good attitude regarding nutrition related issues whilst 96.8% had good practices towards nutrition issues. Women’s knowledge on the first food to give to a baby, length of exclusive breastfeeding, causes of undernutrition and prevention of undernutrition were also significantly and positively associated with access to nutrition information. Also, the results on attitude showed that women had a good attitude towards hand washing, the use of safe water for household purposes, and the effects of weight loss and undernutrition in children. Lastly, the results showed that women had good practices towards using water from protected sources. Conclusion: Access to nutrition information improved maternal knowledge on Women’s knowledge on the first food to give to a baby, length of exclusive breastfeeding, causes of undernutrition and prevention of undernutrition, this suggests that less emphasis may be required in terms of nutrition education interventions on these areas. On the other hand, low levels of knowledge was observed for signs of undernutrition, and causes of undernutrition in both women and children, and prevention of undernutrition amongst 6-23 month’s children suggesting that more emphasis may be required in terms of nutrition intervention designs to address these problems. It is recommended that this surveillance of performance be conducted regularly to refocus and target efforts to needed areas.