Effect of Nutrition Education on Knowledge, Complementary Feeding, and Hygiene Practices of Mothers With Moderate Acutely Malnourished Children in Uganda

Abstract

Background: Inappropriate infant and young child complementary feeding practices related to a lack of maternal knowledge contributes to an increased risk of malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality. There is a lack of data regarding the effect of nutrition education on maternal knowledge, feeding, and hygiene practices as part of a supplementary feeding intervention targeting infants and young children with moderate acute malnutrition in low-income countries like Uganda. Objective: To determine whether nutrition education improves knowledge, feeding, and hygiene practices of mothers with infants and young children diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition. Methods: A cross-sequential study using a pretest–posttest design included 204 mother–infant pairs conveniently sampled across 24 randomly selected clusters. Weekly nutrition education sessions were embedded in a supplementary porridge intervention for 3 months. Mean scores and proportions for knowledge, feeding, and hygiene practices were determined at baseline and end line. The difference between mean scores at the 2 time points were calculated with the paired t test analysis, while the proportions between baseline and end line were calculated using a z test analysis. Results: Mean scores for knowledge, dietary diversity, and meal frequency were higher at end line compared to baseline ( P < .001). Handwashing did not improve significantly ( P = .183), while boiling water to enhance water quality improved ( P < .001). Conclusion: Nutrition education in conjunction with a supplementary feeding intervention targeting infants and young children with moderate acute malnutrition improved meal frequency, dietary diversity and water quality.