Effect of Nutrition Education on Improving Knowledge and Practice Regarding IYCF among Mothers with 6-24 Months Children

Abstract

Food insecurity and poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices contribute to under nutrition. Nutrition during early years of life is crucial for children to survive, grow and develop into healthy adults who can lead rewarding lives and productively contribute to their communities. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) is a critical component of care in childhood. It is a major determinant of short- and long-term health outcomes in individuals, and hence of social and economic development of communities and nations. Objective of the study was to assess effectiveness of nutritional education intervention on improving knowledge and practice regarding IYCF among mothers having 6-24 months children. A Quantitative research approach and Quasi experimental design were used in this study, convenient sampling method with 30 samples were participated in the study, data was collected by structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The finding of the study revealed that the mean post-test knowledge score was higher than mean pre-test knowledge score with the mean difference of 11.67 which revealed that nutritional education intervention was effective in terms of knowledge among mothers. The mean post-test practice score wa s higher than mean pretest practice score with the mean difference of 16.75 which revealed that mothers were doing correct practice after nutritional education.