dc.contributor.author |
Njue, Mary Wanjira |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2024-01-23T09:15:48Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2024-01-23T09:15:48Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2010 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://repository.kemri.go.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/209 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health problem in Kenya. Studies have
shown that Vitamin A supplementation is one of the best proven and most cost effective interventions to improve vitamin A status and save children's lives.
However, despite VAS being administered free of charge to all postnatal mothers and
children 6-59 months in Kenya, the coverage remains low. The main objective of this
study was to assess factors affecting practices and utilization of Vitamin A
supplementation among mothers with children below five years attending Mbagathi
District Hospital. This was a descriptive cross sectional hospital based study that
utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods. It was conducted among mothers
attending the hospitals’ Maternal and Child Health Clinic and Paediatric Outpatient
Department. A total of 158 respondents were interviewed. Quantitative data was
analyzed using Epi Info statistical software while NVIVO software was used for
thematic analysis of qualitative data. Majority (94%) of the respondents reported
having heard about vitamin A supplementation, their major source of information
being the health worker (82%). About a half (52%) of the respondents had their
children up to date with VAS but less than a half (43%) of the mothers had received
vitamin A after delivery. While 58% of the respondents were aware that the
recommended schedule for VAS for children is every 6 months, 49% were aware
vitamin A was given to mothers. All the respondents (100%) who had heard about
VAS reported it was useful to children. There were no negative beliefs or attitudes
mentioned. Three quarters of the respondents’ children had missed the vitamin A
capsule because they were either not aware of the schedule (41%) or had stopped
xiv
coming to the clinic (34%). Most (91%) of the respondents had not encountered any
problems/constraints with VAS services. In conclusion, mothers were very positive
and supportive of VAS. However, the services were not adequately utilized due to
lack of information and awareness among both the health workers and the mothers.
The awareness and utilization of VAS services was noted to increase with the level
of education and was also high among the employed compared to the unemployed. I
recommend regular refresher courses for all health workers to increase awareness of
the entire VAS programme by the Ministry of Health. In addition, they should
enhance information, education and communication pertaining to VAS services to
raise public awareness and advocacy. Further research to evaluate other aspects of
VAS programme should be carried out. |
en_US |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Vitamin A deficiency, public health, Vitamin A supplementation, |
en_US |
dc.title |
Factors Influencing Vitamin A Supplementation Among Mothers of Children Under Five Years Old Attending Mbagathi District Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya |
en_US |
dc.type |
Thesis |
en_US |