Socio-Cultural Predictors of Protein Energy Malnutrition among Breast-Feeding Mothers in Osogbo Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated perceived socio-cultural predictor of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) among breast-feeding mothers in Osogbo metropolis, Nigeria. The research design used for this study is descriptive survey. The population for this study is the breast feeding mothers in Osogbo metropolis while hundred (100) respondents were sampled from two health facilities within the metropolis. Three self developed and structured questionnaires were used as instrument for data collection viz: Social Factors and Childhood Protein Energy Malnutrition Questionnaire (SFCPEMQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.832, Cultural Factors and Childhood Protein Energy Malnutrition Questionnaire (CFCPEMQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.862, and Childhood Protein Energy Malnutrition Questionnaire (CPEMQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.940. Two hypotheses were raised to give focus to the study. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages was used to analyze the demographic data of the respondents while the hypotheses were analyzed using regression analysis. All hypotheses were analyzed at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that socio-cultural factors are significant predictors of PEM among breast feeding mothers; therefore it was recommended that maternal education should be given priority so that mothers will have relevant nutritional knowledge.

Keywords: Protein Energy Malnutrition, malnutrition, culture, mortality.