Browsing by Author "Dr Jean Claude Nkurunziza MD, MPH"

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    Evaluation des connaissances et des pratiques des mères en matière d’alimentation des nourrissons en milieu rural cas de l’ancienne commune Makebuko
    (UB, EANSI, 2025-11) Mahoro, Cynthia; Sous la direction de : Pr Dr Hélène Bukuru; Dr Jean Claude Nkurunziza MD, MPH
    Introduction : The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, followed by appropriate complementary feeding while continuing breastfeeding up to the age of 2 years and beyond. This period, known as the first 1,000 days, is critical for a child’s health, growth, and cognitive development. However, inappropriate infant feeding practices persist, contributing to malnutrition. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing mothers' knowledge and practices regarding the feeding of children aged 0 to 24 months in rural areas of Burundi. Methodology : A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among households in the commune of Makebuko, located in the Kibuye health district, from March 15 to April 15, 2025. The sample included 156 mothers of children aged 0 to 24 months who met the inclusion criteria, selected through systematic sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via KoboCollect. Descriptives, bivariates, and multivariates analyses were performed using Stata version 15.1. The association between the dependent variable and its determining factors was measured using the Odds Ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Variables with a p-value < 0.20 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate model, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results : Multivariate analysis showed that illiteracy (p=0.021), lack of antenatal care (ANC) attendance (p=0.001), and child’s age between 12 and 24 months (p=0.001) were significantly associated with poor maternal knowledge regarding infant feeding. Regarding feeding practices, several factors were associated with unfavorable outcomes: maternal marital status (p=0,07) ; (p=0,030) ; (p=0,002), parity (p=0.030), education level (p=0.039), socioeconomic status (p=0,005) ; (p<0,001), religion (p=0,012) ; (p=0,026), and child’s sex (p = 0.011). Conclusion : Our study highlighted modifiable factors associated with poor maternal knowledge and practices regarding the feeding of children aged 0 to 24 months in households in the commune of Makebuko. These findings help identify key areas for intervention to improve infant feeding in rural areas of Burundi.