Prevention of Malnutrition in Children Below Five Years in Kericho County Refferal Hospital

Abstract

Malnutrition in children below the age of five years remains a huge public health problem in Africa as a whole and Kenya is not excluded. One of the strategies to prevent malnutrition is the implementation of exclusive breast feeding for children below six months, breastfeeding until two years and regularly monitoring growth in the antenatal clinic for children up to five years. The study aimed to assess prevention of malnutrition among children below five years in Kericho County Hospital. The study employed a cross- section design. The study was conducted in Kericho county hospital. The population of this study comprised 40 pediatric malnutrition patients and their respective parents or caregiver. Simple random sampling technique was employed for this study. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. The study was approved by Kabianga institutional Review committee, approval number is ISERC/2023/0014. Confidentiality and privacy of study participants was ensured. The informed consent was obtained from eligible study participant. Participation was voluntary. The study findings reveal that a significant proportion of participants showed awareness of key preventive measures for malnutrition. Specifically, 60% recognized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and 57.5% acknowledged the need for appropriate introduction of complementary foods. Additionally, 57.5% understood the significance of proper hygiene and sanitation practices, while 75% recognized the importance of adequate intake of nutritious foods. Furthermore, 70% of participants adhered to exclusive breastfeeding, but 30% supplemented their infants' diet with other foods. The duration of breastfeeding varied, with 25% breastfeeding for 6-12 months, 17.9% for 12-18 months, and 14.3% for 18-24 months. The pediatric ward demonstrated the integration of preventive measures, including routine growth monitoring (87.5%), nutritional counseling (72.5%), provision of nutritious meals and snacks (92.5%), hygiene and sanitation protocols (95%), and availability of immunizations (80%). In conclusion, the study findings demonstrate a significant level of awareness among participants regarding preventive measures for malnutrition, including exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate introduction of complementary foods, hygiene practices, and adequate intake of nutritious foods. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of adherence to exclusive breastfeeding and the integration of preventive measures in the pediatric ward, emphasizing the role of routine growth monitoring, nutritional counseling, provision of nutritious meals, hygiene protocols, and immunizations in preventing malnutrition.