Mothers' Knowledge of Good Feeding Practices and Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Their Children Aged 0-59 Months in the Municipality of Golfe 1, Togo

Abstract

Eating practices represent a set of social modes relating to human nutrition, influenced by culture, religion and trends. Knowledge of good dietary practices is needed in order to understand the risk factors associated with poor nutrition, which have an impact on the physical and mental health of young children. Togo is undergoing a dietary transition that is affecting all social strata as a result of urbanisation and globalisation. In Togo, particularly in the Golfe 1 municipality, the implementation of national directives to fight against malnutrition requires a good level of knowledge of appropriate practices on the part of the population. With the aim of implementing good feeding practices, we undertook this study to assess mothers' knowledge of good feeding practices by administering a survey questionnaire and to assess the nutritional status of their children aged 0-59 months in the Bè-Kpota and Adakpamè health centres using anthropometry. This work involved a descriptive cross-sectional study of women with a child aged between 0 and 59 months. The results showed that 38.2% of new-borns were put to the breast early; 25% of children aged 0-6 months were exclusively breastfed, while 40.9% received other liquids and 34.1% porridge before the age of six months. Wasting is more prevalent in children aged [12-59] months (12.0%) and [0-12] months (5.0%). In conclusion, this study enabled us to take stock of mother’s knowledge of good eating habits, made possible to assess the nutritional status of the children and also to draw up recommendations for the competent authorities in charge of public health and for civil society organisations in the care of malnourished children.