The role of mothers in the prevention of childhood anaemia in the Obuasi Municipality

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2005-11-08
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Anaemia has remained a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and the role of mothers in the prevention of childhood anaemia in the Obuasi Municipality of Ghana. The information was collected over a period of four months with administration of questionnaires to 150 mothers who attended the Obuasi Government hospital with children 0 — 5 years. A convenience sampling method was used to select mothers who came to the hospital. Children whose mothers were interviewed were observed for the cardinal signs of anaemia (conjunctiva, palm or sole of feet and nail bed). The study showed that the greatest awareness (43.3%) of childhood anaemia was from antenatal clinic, 23.4% through radio or television programmes, 13.3% from friends, 20.0% from relatives and none from school. More than two-thirds of mothers fed their children on high carbohydrate diets and 61.9% who earned below 250,000 per month had their children diagnosed of anaemia two times. About sixty percent attributed the cause of anaemia to poor feeding, 30% to malaria, 5.3% to worm infestation and 2.7% to spiritual causes. The majority of the mothers (85.%) fell within the active population group (27 — 31 years). Mothers’ knowledge on nutrition, sanitation and childcare was inadequate. There was high prevalence of childhood anaemia, which was associated with high incidence of malaria, low socio-economic status and inability to use insecticide treated nets. The study also revealed that most mothers did not know that sickle cell can cause childhood anaemia. It is recommended that formal and informal education of women should be intensified and basic childcare, nutrition and sanitation be taught by schools, clinics and churches. Insecticide treated nets should be made available at affordable price to all while mothers are encouraged to seek prompt treatment for children with malaria. Programmes should be developed for the economic empowerment of women. Finally, further research into childhood anaemia should be undertaken.
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A thesis submitted to the College of Health Sciences in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc. in Health Education and Promotion, 2005
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