Assessment of Mothers' Knowledge of Childhood Malnutrition Prevention Practices at Ugbor Primary Health Centre in Benin City, Nigeria

Aims: To assess mothers' knowledge of childhood malnutrition prevention practices at Ugbor Primary Health Centre, Benin City, Nigeria; identify socio-demographic factors influencing these practices and provide recommendations for targeted interventions.

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Ugbor Primary Health Centre (PHC), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, conducted from February 2024 to August, 2024.

Methodology: A total of 167 mothers, aged 18 years and above, attending the immunization clinic were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaire that captured socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of malnutrition, and preventive practices. Descriptive statistics summarized findings, and chi-square tests identified associations between socio-demographic variables, malnutrition knowledge and prevention practices.

Results: The study revealed that 92.7% of participants were aware of childhood malnutrition. The primary sources of information were hospitals (50.6%) and health workers (50.0%). The main causes of malnutrition identified by mothers included poor feeding practices (68.3%), inadequate breastfeeding (73.1%), and lack of balanced diets (62.9%). Regarding preventive practices, 86.2% of mothers ensured their children consumed balanced diets, but only 57.8% practiced exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months. Identified barriers to effective prevention included cultural feeding practices (34.1%) and limited access to nutritious foods (41.3%). Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between education level and knowledge (P = .02) and between occupation and feeding practices (P = 0.3).

Conclusion: High awareness of malnutrition was observed among mothers; however, gaps in preventive practices persist. Integrating nutrition education into immunization services, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, and addressing cultural and resource-related barriers are crucial for enhancing maternal practices and improving child health outcomes.