Maternal Self-rated Capability Status and Its Association with Under-Five Children Morbidity

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Under-five morbidity is a critical public health issue in developing countries.
• Maternal intervention is key to improving child health outcomes.
• Understanding factors influencing child morbidity is essential for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between maternal self-rated capability status (SCS) and under-five morbidity.
• To identify specific domains of maternal SCS that affect child morbidity incidence.
• To provide evidence for targeted maternal and community interventions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 683 nursing mothers in Ibadan North LGA, Nigeria.
• Data collected from 20 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) between September 13-27, 2018.
• Logistic regression analysis used to assess the association between maternal SCS domains and under-five morbidity, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Mothers with poor SCS in knowledge, experience, exposure, and vulnerability domains had significantly higher odds of under-five morbidity (497%, 323%, 400%, 318% increased risk, respectively).
• Children from food-insecure households and those with improper waste disposal faced higher morbidity risks.
• Having more than one under-five child was associated with lower morbidity odds.

Conclusions:

• Maternal SCS is a critical determinant of under-five morbidity.
• Community interventions should focus on enhancing mothers' knowledge and skills in child prevention and care.
• Empowering mothers is vital for reducing the burden of under-five morbidity.