Dietary and Hygiene Practices of Mothers of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months Suffering from Moderate Acute Malnutrition in the Sub-prefecture of Kongasso, Béré Region, Ivory Coast

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by high prevalences of stunting, underweight, and wasting despite significant agricultural potential. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the dietary and hygiene practices of mothers with children aged 6 to 59 months suffering from moderate acute malnutrition in the Sub-prefecture of Kongasso. Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted using a single-pass questionnaire among 320 mother-child pairs involving children with moderate acute malnutrition. Place and Duration of Study: In 19 villages in the sub-prefecture of Kongos, from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. Methodology: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered via face-to-face interviews with mothers of children aged 6 to 59 months diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition. Data collection focused on sociodemographic and economic characteristics, as well as the dietary and hygiene practices of the malnourished children. Results: The results indicate a predominance of male children (51%), with a sex ratio of 1.05. The mean age of the surveyed mothers was 32 ± 9.8 years, and the majority were in a relationship, living in either monogamous (61.56%) or polygamous (33.75%) households. The primary occupations of the mothers were market gardening (95.94%) and petty trade (100%). Regarding purchasing power, 68% of households allocated between 3,000 and 6,000 FCFA to weekly food expenditures, with an average household size of seven (07) individuals. All surveyed children were breastfed within the first hours following birth and received colostrum. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by 39.4% of mothers, while 60.6% initiated complementary feeding before the child reached six (6) months of age. Two out of three children (66.6%) were weaned before the age of 2 years. More than half (55.17%) of the children consumed four meals per day. The dietary diversity score was average for children aged 6 to 23 months, with 44.83% maintaining a satisfactory diet. For children aged 24 to 59 months, the mean dietary diversity score was 4.88. Regarding hygiene, 95% of mothers primarily used potable water from hand-operated pumps and boreholes equipped with electric pumps. No household possessed a handwashing station; 97.5% washed their hands with water only, while 63.75% used unimproved latrines and 28.75% practiced open defecation. This study highlights progress and/or shortcomings in nutrition, hygiene, water, and sanitation in the locality with regard to national and international sustainable development goals. It will also contribute to better guiding nutrition and health programs and projects in this locality, and to planning corrective or mitigation measures during the development of basic social projects and programs in general.