SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCING MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN UNDER-FIVE YEARS IN THE CAPE COAST METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT The study sought to explore how socio-cultural factors influence malnutrition among children under-five in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Specifically, the study sought to: describe social factors influencing malnutrition among children under-five years old in the Cape Coast Metropolis, discuss cultural beliefs influencing malnutrition among children less than five years old in the Cape Coast Metropolis and analyse feeding practices influencing malnutrition among children under-five years in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The study employed a qualitative approach. Guided by the Ecosystem model of nutrition, 18 mothers were purposively selected and interviewed. The results were presented with text and quotations. The results showed that the social factors affecting malutrition among children under-five are low edcucational level, non-supporting spouses, occupation and large family size. The cultural factors influencing malnutrition among children under-five include food taboos and poor feeding practices. It is therefore recommended that there should be intensification of child health education by community health nurses on the causes of malnutrition among children under-five and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Health Directorate should intensify public education on the need to send children to health facilities but not prayer camps when they are malnourished.