Mother's health awareness and nutritional status of children in Khartoum state-Sudan

ABSTRACT

The main objectives of the study are to investigate the relation between socioeconomic factors and mother's health awareness, and the impact of mother's awareness on her children's health. Comparative approach was made between three different socioeconomic strata. Sample size was 400 families, the main respondent was mother. Different quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were used [questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and observations]. Likert scale was also used to measure mothers' awareness. Anthropometric measurement and prevalence of diseases of under -ten years old children were both used to determine children health status. The study found that family income was the strongest factor affecting mother's health awareness [P=0.000], also mother's education and age are influencing factors. Accordingly, the children of the first class area were found to be healthier than the two other areas; the mean Z-score is [0.01]. Moreover, mother's health awareness leads to decrease the prevalence of malaria and pneumonia. Therefore, intervention health awareness programmes towards mothers are needed to improve children's health [e.g. nutrition, personal hygiene and home sanitation]. The government must also give more attention to the adoption of new policies for improving the general standard of living