title: Determinants of appropriate child health and nutrition practices among women in rural Gambia.
abstract: Health education and awareness involves providing knowledge about causes of illness and choices to promote a change in individual behaviour and, thus, improves survival of individuals. Studies have, however, shown that improved knowledge and awareness is not always translated into appropriate actions. This study aimed at exploring the factors determining mothers' choices of appropriate child health and nutrition practices in the Gambia. Eight focus-group discussions (FGDs) were held with 63 women whose children had been seen at the Keneba MRC Clinic within the 12 months preceding the study. The FGDs were analyzed using a thematic framework. Gender inequality, presence or absence of support networks, alternative explanatory models of malnutrition, and poverty were identified as the main factors that would determine the ability of a mother to practise what she knows about child health and nutrition. The findings highlight the need to consider the broader social, cultural and economic factors, including the value of involving men in childcare, when designing nutritional interventions.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Collaborative Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, PO Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya. mmwangome@kilifi.kemri-wellcome.org
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mwangome
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Plugge
authors.forename: Chidi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nweneka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods; D005714:Gambia; D005783:Gender Identity; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D012424:Rural Population; D012944:Social Support
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