Nutrition education to promote consumption of low-cost fish products to improve nutritional status of children 6-23 months in Kampala.

Abstract

Background: Ugandan children’s complementary diets are mainly composed of starchy staples (cereals, roots, tubers, and bananas), with legumes as the main protein source and low consumption of fruits, vegetables, and animal protein sources, hence this study was to educate mothers on the importance of animal source foods in the children’s diets . Methodology: The study was a randomized controlled trial which measured the effectiveness of a new intervention or treatment while reducing bias and provides a rigorous tool to examine cause-effect relationships between an intervention and outcome. The study lasted 8 months. A total of 62 mothers and their children aged 6 to 23 months completed the study. 31 mother- child pairs underwent nutrition education while 31 others did not. Data was collected on knowledge and practices; consumption frequency of low-cost fish products by children, and nutrition status (MUAC-for age, weight-for-age, and haemoglobin status) of children at both baseline and endline. Results: Analyses were done using independent t-tests to compare means between intervention and control groups at both baseline and endline. Analysis for changes in MUAC-and weight were done using WHO ANTHRO. The intervention mothers exhibited non-significant mean differences in their knowledge (p = 0.000); practices (p = 0.000); and consumption frequency of low-cost fish products (p = 0.000). And there were non-significant mean changes in the children’s haemoglobin status (p = 0.153).No changes in the MUAC-for-age and weight-for- age. Conclusion: Nutrition education did not lead to any significant mean differences in maternal knowledge and practices, consumption frequency of low-cost fish products by children, and did not lead to any changes in the children’s MUAC-for-age, weight-for-age and haemoglobin status.

Recommendations: In this study, nutrition education was not effective in promoting consumption of low cost fish products among children. A study longer than 8 months would possibly yield significant mean differences and changes.