Functionality and Effect of Mother-to-Mother Support Groups in Improving Child Health and Nutrition in Northern Ghana
Abstract:
Maternal and child
health have gain significant attentional globally, especially in sub-Sahara Africa
where illness among newborns, complications in pregnancy, malnutrition, and
maternal and neonatal deaths are higher comparable to countries in the global
north. In light of this, the study explored the effect of mother support groups
on primary health care and nutrition outcomes among children under five years.
The mixed method research approach supported by pragmatic philosophy was to
conduct a cross-sectional survey that gathered data from 484 mothers of
children under five years. The study combined questionnaires, interviews and
focused group discussions to gather data. The study showed that MTMSG
translates into positive impact on nutritional practices among children under
five years. Although some level of variabilities existed, yet the study
demonstrated that, high consumption of grains meat and fish, fruits and
vegetables, dairy and nuts/legumes were significantly influenced by MTMSG. Again,
it was shown that, MTMSG translates into high maternal knowledge on child
health issues which improves timely treatment of respiratory illnesses,
malaria, diarrhea by a margin of 80%. Most importantly, the study showed that,
nearly 70% of the issues discussed within MTMSG were centered on hygiene
followed by nutrition within discussion rate of 32%. Discussions on both family
planning and malaria were least with each scoring 21% and 14% discussion rates.
In general, the study showed that, 65% of the respondents had received support
suggesting that MTMSG provide progressive assistants to its members which
enhance the tracking of health progress among children under five years.
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