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The maternal domain: social support, decision‐making, psychological health and child feeding and anthropometry in Uganda
Author(s) -
Ickes Scott,
Mandel Maia P,
Roberts Alison
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.891.6
Subject(s) - anthropometry , psychological intervention , context (archaeology) , empowerment , social support , developmental psychology , environmental health , medicine , psychology , demography , social psychology , psychiatry , geography , archaeology , sociology , political science , law
The majority of essential nutrition interventions discussed in the “scaling up” strategies require action at the household level by mothers. Maternal capabilities, or the abilities of mothers “to be and to do”, hold potential influence over the women's adoption and successful maintenance of child caring behaviors for nutrition, including infant and young child feeding. We developed a survey that assesses five dimensions of maternal capabilities (social support, psychological health, general and health‐related decision‐making, and freedom/empowerment) to assess the associations between these domains and mothers ICYF practices and the anthropometry of their children. The survey was administered among 195 mothers of young children in western Uganda. Mothers reported substantial variation in responses to the five survey dimensions, indicating that scalar measurements of complex social constructs are possible using orally administered surveys in this context. Nearly half (49.7%) of children were stunted. Maternal social support is strongly related to multiple indicators of child and anthropometry. Mothers who reported a high level of social support were more likely to introduce complementary foods to their children in a timely manner (OR = 1.8, 95% CI= 1.00, 3.22), a minimally diverse diet (OR = 1.21, 95% CI= 1.02, 1.44), iron rich foods, and a minimally acceptable diet (OR = 1.30, 95% CI= 1.06, 1.59). Mothers who reported high levels of freedom and empowerment were more likely to feed their children iron rich foods, a minimally acceptable diet (OR = 2.65, 95% CI= 0.96, 7.31) and a minimally diverse diet (OR = 3.23, 95% CI= 1.28, 8.14). Other measures of capabilities were not significantly associated with child feeding and growth outcomes. Strengthening social support for mothers in this context holds potential for addressing an important underlying determinant of child feeding and growth. Nutrition interventions that seek to understand and potentially to strengthen maternal factors, especially social support and women's general sense of empowerment, may improve their impact on child feeding and growth outcomes. Support or Funding Information This study was supported by a Reves Center International Faculty Research Fellowship and a Faculty Research Grant, and a Borgenicht Foundation Grant for Health Sciences Research from the College of William and Mary.