Analyse des facteurs influençant les connaissances et pratiques nutritionnelles des mères d’enfants de 6-59 mois dans le district sanitaire de KABEZI

Abstract

In Burundi, child malnutrition remains a major public health problem, especially among children aged 6 to 59 months. However, data on mothers' nutritional knowledge and practices are still limited, particularly in the Kabezi health district. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with the nutritional knowledge and practices of mothers with children aged 6 to 59 months in the Kabezi health district. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out with 403 mothers selected through stratified sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and then analyzed using both bivariate and multivariate approaches, with estimation of Odds Ratios (OR), Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR), and 95% confidence intervals. The results reveal an overall insufficient level of nutritional knowledge and practices among the mothers surveyed. Multivariate analysis showed that nutritional knowledge was significantly associated with the mother's occupation, particularly as a trader (OR = 35.48; 95% CI: 1.92–655.40; p = 0.016; AOR = 28.61; 95% CI: 1.75–468.20; p = 0.019), a favorable perception of child feeding (OR = 26.02; 95% CI: 1.57–430.47; p = 0.023; AOR = 21.44; 95% CI: 1.42–320.55; p = 0.027), as well as access to nutrition training (OR = 13.94; 95% CI: 1.38–140.66; p = 0.025; AOR = 11.72; 95% CI: 1.21–112.84; p = 0.031). As for nutritional practices, household food availability (OR = 19.73; 95% CI: 1.44–269.45; p = 0.025; AOR = 16.88; 95% CI: 1.36–210.77; p = 0.028) and the father's salaried job (OR = 10.94; 95% CI: 1.56–76.73; p = 0.016; AOR = 9.41; 95% CI: 1.42–62.35 p = 0,021) were important factors. Sociocultural factors, especially how people view a child's diet, stand out as the most influential determinants of nutritional knowledge and practices (p = 0.001), while socioeconomic factors, particularly food availability, strongly influence the adoption of proper practices. These results highlight the need to strengthen nutrition education programs, improve household food security, and promote access to healthcare services.