title: FACTORS INFLUENCING VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION AMONG MOTHERS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD AT MBAGATHI DISTRICT HOSPITAL, KENYA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin A supplementation is one of the best-proven and most costeffective interventions to improve vitamin A status and save children's lives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess factors affecting practices and utilisation of Vitamin A supplementation services among mothers with children below five years attending Mbagathi District Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mbagathi District Hospital (MDH) Maternal and Child Health Clinic (MCH) and Paediatric Out Patient Department (POPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers attending MDH MCH and POPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilisation, Practices and Awareness of vitamin A supplementation (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of one hundred and fifty eight respondents were interviewed. About a half (52%) of the respondents had their children up to date with VAS while less than a half (43%) of the mothers had received vitamin A after delivery. Three quarters of the respondents'children had missed the vitamin A capsule because they were either not aware of schedule (41%) or had stopped coming to clinic (35%). This notwithstanding, 91% of the respondents neither encountered any problems when seeking VAS services nor had negative beliefs or superstitions about vitamin A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main factors affecting utilisation of VAS services was lack of information and awareness among both health workers and mothers. These services are averagely well utilised at MDH though still below the National 80% coverage target.
authors: Presbyterian Universityof East Africa, Nairobi.
authors: M W
authors: MW
authors: Kamau
authors: A O
authors: AO
authors: Makokha
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Mutai
authors: I K
authors: IK
authors: Mugoya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A