Publication:

Nutritional care practices for children from 6 to 24 months old by Cham ethnic mothers

Background This study aims to explore the nutritional care practices for children from 6 to 24 months old by Cham ethnic mothers in Tan Chau town, An Giang province in 2018.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on Cham ethnic children aged from 6 to 24 months and their mothers living in Tan Chau town, An Giang province.

Results The rate of mothers practicing proper and sufficient prenatal care during pregnancy is 74.4%; the rate of mothers engaging in lighter work than before pregnancy is 64.2%; the rate of mothers eating more than before pregnancy is 72.2%; the rate of mothers taking iron supplements during pregnancy is high at 85%. Practices regarding the timing of weaning children are not good, with 36.8% of mothers weaning children at the wrong time. Practices for feeding children supplementary foods are relatively good: 90.7% of mothers feed their children at the right time, however, the rate of mothers providing children with a complete range of food groups is only 23.0%. Maternal care practices for sick children have many shortcomings, with 81.7% of mothers feeding children incorrectly when they have diarrhea, and only 38.4% of children receiving oral rehydration solution (ORS) when they have diarrhea. Personal hygiene practices of the mother and child care are not good, with 24.3% of mothers not properly performing hand hygiene for themselves and their children.

Conclusions We need to strengthen propaganda and consulting work for each group of subjects, especially the Cham ethnic people, on nutritional care practices for children from 6-24 months old.