Are the Mothers of Hospitalized Socially Disadvantaged Children worse Care Givers than those of Non-disadvantaged Children?

Abstract

The level of general hygiene, duration of breastfeeding and number of doses of scheduled immunizations received by 207 socially disadvantaged and 237 non-disadvantaged controls, mostly under five-year old children, admitted to the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, over a six-month period, were studied through physical inspection and administration of questionnaire. Compared with controls, higher percentages of disadvantaged children received none or incomplete doses of scheduled vaccinations (p<0.001), were breastfed for a total of less than 18 months (p <0.05) and were kept below average standard of hygiene (p<0.001). The findings suggest that there is need to further define the factors of social disadvantage prevalent in our communities and their effects on the health of children in order to effectively reduce the incidence and ill effects of such social disadvantages.





Key words: Mothers, Social, Disadvantage, Care givers


Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2002; 29:113-119.