Publication:

A study to assess knowledge of mothers’ of under-five children regarding PEM in field practice areas of a tertiary health care teaching hospital from Hyderabad

Background Despite of starting nutritional programs early into the life of country, India has not been able to control the status of malnutrition. Mothers being in close contact and primary care takers most of the times, directly influence health of the child.

Methods This community based descriptive study was conducted with systematic random sampling and a unique tool developed to assess maternal knowledge on PEM having 30 point system was used to grade knowledge into 3 categories of low knowledge, intermediate knowledge and high knowledge of PEM.

Results There was significant association observed in maternal educational status, educational status of family and with increase in maternal age.

Conclusions With strengthening of policies for development of maternal education and income, and delaying average age at marriage and subsequently age at pregnancy, knowledge of mothers can be increased resulting in reducing prevalence of malnutrition in community.