Feeding practices and nutritional status of children in Ampain Refugee Camp, Ghana

Abstract

Children under five years are known to be more vulnerable and susceptible to nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition worldwide than any other group of people. Child malnutrition especially is responsible for over a million direct and indirect causes of death worldwide. The effects are even higher in developing countries. It was against this backdrop that the purpose of this study found out the feeding practices and nutritional status of children in Ampain refugee camp in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was adopted for the study. One hundred and fifty children between 6 - 59 months and their mothers were census sampled. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data. Ethical clearance was sought prior to data collection. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive (means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (ANOVA, Independent T test and Chi square). Feeding practices of the children were not optimal which may account for malnutrition among children in the camp. Age group of child, sex of household head and income level of the caregivers were significantly different at P > 0.05. Majority (98.7%) of the children showed some degree of severity of food insecurity with only few (1.3%) being food secure. Specific educational programmes about adequate nutrition, breast feeding and weaning were recommended