Healthcare providers and caregivers’ perspectives on factors responsible for persistent malnutrition of under 5 children in Buhweju district, South Western Uganda; a phenomenological qualitative study

BMC Public Health

Savino Ayesiga¹  Catherine N. Abaasa²  Noni MacDonald³  Godfrey Zari Rukundo⁴  Shawna O’Hearn⁵  Susan Campisi⁶  Susan Pearl Atukunda⁷ 

[1] Department of Anatomy, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda;Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda;Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada;Department of Psychiatry, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda;Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada;Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada;Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada;Uganda Industrial Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda;

关键词: Malnutrition;    Nutrition;    Village health teams;    Caregivers;    Healthcare providers;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-11432-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundUnacceptably high levels of childhood malnutrition have been registered in all regions of Uganda over the years. Buhweju district alone contributed 46% prevalence of childhood malnutrition to the 47.8% estimated national prevalence for the whole of western Uganda in 2014. This study assessed health provider and caregiver opinions on factors responsible for persistent malnutrition among under five children in Engaju and Nyakishana sub counties.MethodsIn this phenomenological qualitative study, we conducted two key informant interviews and six focus group discussions with Village Health Team members and care takers of under five children in Engaju and Nyakishana sub-counties respectively.to explore their opinions on the factors responsible for persistent malnutrition in Buhweju District in May 2018. Data were thematically analyzed manually and using Atals Ti 7.5.ResultsHistorical and geographical challenges, poverty and economic occupation, parental alcoholism and domestic violence as well as inadequate childcare services were identified as factors responsible for persistent malnutrition among under five children in Engaju and Nyakishana sub counties.ConclusionPersistent malnutrition in under five children is mainly due to historical and geographical challenges and its associated factors that include poverty and economic occupation, parental alcoholism and domestic violence and inadequate childcare services. Thus literacy education for mothers and young adolescent boys and girls through engaging local leaders, local nongovernmental organizations and Companies operating in the district to contribute to social services provision would limit the domestic violence and increase sensitization on male responsibilities in the children care in Buhweju district.

【 授权许可】

CC BY