Factors Contributing to Poor Feeding Patterns Among the Children Aged Under Five Years Admitted to Lira Regional Referral Hospital Lira District

ABSTRACT Background The issue of healthy eating or feeding has long been an important concern to individuals and communities. Feeding is the process of taking in food by an organism to provide them with nutritional needs necessary for growth and energy Objective To assess the factors contributing to poor feeding pattern among children under five years admitted in pediatric ward Lira Regional Referral Hospital Methods The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Results Among all the respondents that were interviewed, it was found that the greatest number of children who were hospitalized was of the age group 2-5 years and this accounted for 40% of the total respondents. This was attributed to the weaning effect as this is the age bracket where children are weaned from breast feeding and this could have affected their immune system. The results showed that up to about 70% of mothers do not have money at any one time which influences the feeding patterns and in the long run may lead to malnutrition among children under five. Conclusion Conclusively, the research has shown that the main factor contributing to poor feeding among children under five in Lira Regional Referral Hospital are illnesses that cause loss of appetite and vomiting. However, poverty is another major contributing factor to poor feeding among the under five children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................................ i

APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION................................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ iv

ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................... v

1.0 CHAPTER ONE .........................................................................................................................................1

1.1 Introduction. .....................................................................................................................................1

1.2 Statement of problem.......................................................................................................................3

1.3 Purpose of the study ........................................................................................................................4

1.5 Research questions...........................................................................................................................4

1.7 Conceptual Framework.....................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER TWO ..............................................................................................................................................7

2.0 Literature review...............................................................................................................................7

2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................7

2.2 Environmental Factors......................................................................................................................8

2.4 Strategies to improve the feeding pattern among children aged 0-5 years admitted in hospital .10

CHAPTER THREE ..........................................................................................................................................12

3.0 Research Methodology ...................................................................................................................12

3.1 Introduction. ...................................................................................................................................12

3.2 Study Design....................................................................................................................................12

3.3 Study area/ Setting .........................................................................................................................12

3.4 Study population.............................................................................................................................13

3.5 Study Variables ...............................................................................................................................15

3.6 Research instrument.......................................................................................................................15

3.7 Data Collection methods.................................................................................................................15

3.8 Ethical Consideration .....................................................................................................................16

3.9 Study Limitations ............................................................................................................................16

3.10 Dissemination of Results.................................................................................................................17

CHAPTER FOUR: ..........................................................................................................................................18

4.0 RESEARCH FINDINGS.............................................................................................................................18

4.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................18

CHAPTER FIVE .............................................................................................................................................39

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS ............................................................................................................................39

5.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................39

5.2 Discussion..............................................................................................................................................39

5.3 CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................41

5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................................41

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................43

QUESTIONNAIRE .........................................................................................................................................44