LEARN Lao PDR - Master thesis: Food consumption patterns of inpatient children aged 3 to 5 years with diarrhea in Khammam province hospitals
Food consumption patterns of inpatient children aged 3 to 5 years with diarrhea in Khammam province hospitals
ABSTRACT
Nutritious dietary diversity is associated with improved appropriate food consumption for children. Diarrhea is the most common childhood illness and causes hospitalization especially in low and middle income countries; it accounts for about 8%
of all child deaths worldwide. However, these problems can be stopped by continuing to give nutrient rich foods during and after diarrhea. The objectives of this study were to describe the food consumption patterns and determine the factors associated with the food consumption patterns of the inpatient children aged 3 to 5 years with diarrhea in hospitals in Khammuane province during 2019. A cross sectional study was conducted in mothers/caregivers of 130 inpatient children aged 3 to 5 years presenting with diarrhea in hospitals in Khammuane province using a quantitative questionnaire. A qualitative survey was also conducted with 15 healthcare providers in these hospitals.
The results showed that 29.2% of children had inappropriate food consumption patterns and 70.7% had an appropriate food consumption patterns. Factors associated significantly with inpatient children’s food consumption patterns were the caregiver’s age (AOR=0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.9), the caregiver’s knowledge (AOR=5.1, 95% CI=1.1- 22.2) and the caregiver’s perception (AOR=0.2, 95% CI=0.1-0.7). Language was the main barrier for the provision of good practices and meaningful consultations. In order to improve inpatient children’s food consumption, there is a need to have a guidelines for the food consumption of children for medical staff, nutrition education programs for caregivers in hospitals and the community, and to raise the awareness of families and communities about the health benefits of a proper diet, especially during diarrhea.
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