Estudio de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de alimentación complementaria, en cuidadores de niños de 6 a 23 meses en el Centro de Salud del cantón Camilo Ponce Enríquez en el periodo octubre a diciembre 2022.

Abstract

Nutritional deficit due to a nutrient-poor diet is one of the factors that most contribute to growth retardation or the development of comorbidities in infants 6 to 23 months of age. Among the main causes that have an impact on nutritional status are poverty, lack of knowledge of the complementary food plan or lack of information. This problem is evident in Ecuador, about 27.2% of children under 2 years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition according to data from ENSANUT-ECU (2018). Investigating the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP), of complementary feeding, allows evaluating the caregiver and knowing what they think, believe and how they act when feeding their children, taking into account that an ideal level of cognition of the caregiver, is strongly associated with adequate complementary feeding. Objective: To establish the association of knowledge, attitudes and practices of complementary feeding of caregivers and their impact on the nutritional status of children 6 to 23 months of age attending the Health Center of the Camilo Ponce Enriquez canton in the period from October to December 2022. Hypothesis: The level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers on the subject of complementary feeding would be associated with the nutritional status of children 6 to 23 months of age in the Camilo Ponce Enriquez canton. Methods: Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study to analyze the prevalence of malnutrition and the association between the nutritional status of children 6 to 23 months of age and the level of knowledge, attitudes and feeding practices of caregivers, based on the FAO CAP survey. The study was conducted at the Type C Health Center of the Camilo Ponce Enriquez canton, in the period from October to December 2022. Applicability of the results: The result of the study will allow identifying the level of knowledge, practices and attitudes in caregivers about complementary feeding and breastfeeding, important for the health of the child and future adult; and how these are associated with child nutritional status. The study will allow health professionals to identify risk factors associated with the conditions of primary caregivers, which influence the growth and development of children. This knowledge will allow working on education strategies directed towards caregivers and pregnant women to prevent malnutrition.