Abstract

CASTILLO-SAAVEDRA, Ericson Felix et al. Knowledge and practices on chronic malnutrition in mothers benefiting from a Peruvian social program. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2020, vol.18, n.1, pp.14-21. ISSN 1812-9528.  https://doi.org/10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2020.018.01.14-021.

Chronic malnutrition represents a public health problem mainly in underdeveloped countries, which is why governmental strategies that promote healthy eating are required. The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive and correlational study was to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge and practices on chronic malnutrition in mothers who benefit from a social program of the Peruvian state. The sample was obtained using a non-probabilistic system with voluntary subject type that included 72 mothers who had children under 3 years of age at the time of the study in accordance with the policies of the beneficiary of the social program. A questionnaire and a checklist were used to measure the level of knowledge and prevention practices on chronic malnutrition respectively, which were previously subjected to a psychometric analysis to determine the validity and reliability. The 45,8% of mothers had high knowledge and 65,3% performed appropriate practices. After analyzing using the Spearman correlation coefficient, a value of 0,268 was found. It is concluded that there was a positive and significant correlation between the level of knowledge and the practices on prevention of chronic malnutrition in beneficiary mothers, which would indicate the suitability of the implementation of these social programs in the reduction of the morbidity and mortality of children under 3 years of age, and based on the results found, government policies that allow sustainability over time are established.

Keywords : Knowledge; clinical practices; primary prevention; malnutrition; National Health Programs (Source: MeSH NLM).

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