Causes of Suboptimal Eating Habits in Children Ages 0-5 Hospitalized at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital's Pediatric Ward

Healthy feeding habits significantly impact the well-being of individuals within communities by providing essential nutrients for growth and development. This study aimed to examine the various factors influencing inadequate feeding patterns among children under five years old admitted to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital's pediatric ward. Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, the study highlighted key findings from interviews with respondents. Notably, a significant portion of parents (42.7%) of hospitalized children fell within the 16-30 age group. The focus on this age bracket stemmed from the critical phase of weaning children from breastfeeding, potentially impacting their immune systems—a concern highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008 regarding the hospitalization of under-five children due to malaria and compromised immune statuses after weaning. The study emphasized the profound impact of illness on feeding patterns, with approximately 47.2% of children experiencing frequent sickness and 47.5% undergoing changes in treatment during their hospital stay. Financial constraints were also a prevalent issue, with nearly 40% of mothers lacking funds at some point, directly affecting their ability to maintain adequate feeding practices and potentially leading to malnutrition in children under five. Overall, the study identified illness as a primary driver of poor feeding habits among hospitalized children, often resulting in loss of appetite and vomiting. Concurrently, poverty emerged as another significant contributor to inadequate feeding practices in this demographic, highlighting the multifaceted nature of challenges affecting the nutritional well-being of under-five children in the hospital setting. Keywords: Good feeding, Poor feeding patterns, Pediatric ward, Children under five, Mothers.