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THE ROLE OF MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN FROM 6-59 MONTH IN SHASHEMENE TOWN, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA: (COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY).
Last modified: 2020-03-12
Abstract
Hailemariam Abiy (BSc, MPH)*1, Fitsum Wasihun (Bsc)1, Fentaw Tadese (BSc, MPH)1
1*Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia. Email: hailemariamabiy74@yahoo.com
1Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University. Email: fisumewashun21@yahoo.com
1Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University. Email: fentadese760@yahoo.com
Correspondence author: Hailemariam Abiy, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia. Email: hailemariamabiy74@yahoo.com. Telephone: +252 9 12 19 16 43. P.O.BOX: 269
ABSTRACT
Background: Nutritional status is the result of complex interactions between food consumption and the overall status of health and health care practices. Numerous socio-economic and cultural factors influence the nutritional status of children. How maternal employment influence child feeding practice is not well studied thus this study compared child nutritional status among employed and unemployed mothers.
Objective: To assess the role of maternal employment on nutritional status of children from 6 to 59 months in Shashemene Town Oromia Region South Ethiopia.
Method: Health facility-based Comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January 23 to February 24, 2017, within 838 sample sizes of employed and unemployed mothers with children from 6 to 59 months and systematic sampling technique was used. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement through face to face interviews. Data were entered using Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21 Software. The degree of associated factors was assessed using logistic regression and variables with p-value <0.05 were taken as a significant variable.
Results: From the total of 838 respondents, 98.1% responded for an interview. About 21.8% and 33.6% of employed and unemployed mothers of children were stunted respectively. About 18.3% of Employed mothers’ children and 10.1% of unemployed mothers' children were underweighted. From the total employed and unemployed mothers’ children 6.5% and 10.4% were wasted respectively. Factors influencing the nutritional status of children were mothers of daily laborer children (AOR 3.1, 95%CI: 1.58-6.17), educational level of mothers (AOR 0.2, 95%CI: 0.07-0.59), family size (AOR 7.7, 95%CI2.72-18.94), fever (AOR 0.1 95%CI: 0.03-0.48), diarrhea (AOR 4.8 95%CI: 1.29-17.58) and cough (AOR 2.0 95%CI 1.59-2.90).
Conclusion and Recommendation: The overall anthropometric nutritional status of children of employed mothers is better than that of unemployed mothers. Women's job opportunity and participating women in income-generating activities should be taken as an important Strategies for improvement of child nutrition, which will facilitate the dual role of mothers.
Keywords: Child, Nutrition, Employed, Mother, Ethiopia.
1*Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia. Email: hailemariamabiy74@yahoo.com
1Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Markos University. Email: fisumewashun21@yahoo.com
1Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University. Email: fentadese760@yahoo.com
Correspondence author: Hailemariam Abiy, Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia. Email: hailemariamabiy74@yahoo.com. Telephone: +252 9 12 19 16 43. P.O.BOX: 269
ABSTRACT
Background: Nutritional status is the result of complex interactions between food consumption and the overall status of health and health care practices. Numerous socio-economic and cultural factors influence the nutritional status of children. How maternal employment influence child feeding practice is not well studied thus this study compared child nutritional status among employed and unemployed mothers.
Objective: To assess the role of maternal employment on nutritional status of children from 6 to 59 months in Shashemene Town Oromia Region South Ethiopia.
Method: Health facility-based Comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January 23 to February 24, 2017, within 838 sample sizes of employed and unemployed mothers with children from 6 to 59 months and systematic sampling technique was used. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement through face to face interviews. Data were entered using Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21 Software. The degree of associated factors was assessed using logistic regression and variables with p-value <0.05 were taken as a significant variable.
Results: From the total of 838 respondents, 98.1% responded for an interview. About 21.8% and 33.6% of employed and unemployed mothers of children were stunted respectively. About 18.3% of Employed mothers’ children and 10.1% of unemployed mothers' children were underweighted. From the total employed and unemployed mothers’ children 6.5% and 10.4% were wasted respectively. Factors influencing the nutritional status of children were mothers of daily laborer children (AOR 3.1, 95%CI: 1.58-6.17), educational level of mothers (AOR 0.2, 95%CI: 0.07-0.59), family size (AOR 7.7, 95%CI2.72-18.94), fever (AOR 0.1 95%CI: 0.03-0.48), diarrhea (AOR 4.8 95%CI: 1.29-17.58) and cough (AOR 2.0 95%CI 1.59-2.90).
Conclusion and Recommendation: The overall anthropometric nutritional status of children of employed mothers is better than that of unemployed mothers. Women's job opportunity and participating women in income-generating activities should be taken as an important Strategies for improvement of child nutrition, which will facilitate the dual role of mothers.
Keywords: Child, Nutrition, Employed, Mother, Ethiopia.