Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition in Sierra Leone: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Barriers

Project

Malnutrition and undernutrition remains a serious health problem for many mothers, infants and children in Sierra Leone. In 2019, KIT conducted a national study to better understand men’s and women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices towards children’s development and wellbeing, with an emphasis on nutrition. 

Map of Sierra Leone
KIT sampled six districts for the qualitative part of the study. They were selected based on four nutrition indicators: Stunting, Severe Acute Malnutrition, Minimal Diet Diversity and Minimal Meal Frequency

Behavioural Change Communication 

This study was designed to help the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation develop a Behavioural Change Communication strategy about maternal, infant and young child nutrition. KIT collected qualitative data in six districts across Sierra Leone. This included focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with mothers, fathers, pregnant women, health workers, NGOs, and district medical/nutrition officers, among others.

Respondent GroupPerformed
Women with Children30 FGD
Fathers with Children15 FGD
Pregnant women54 IDI
District Medical Officers6 IDI
NGOs6 IDI
District Nutrition Focal Persons6 IDI
Health Workers14 IDI
Representatives of Mother Support Group6 IDI
Grandmothers27 IDI
Number of Focus-Group Discussions and In-Depth Interviews performed 

KIT complemented this research with a desk study and secondary analysis of existing quantitative data (MICS and National Nutrition Survey), which the project team used for triangulation and further exploration purposes. This quantitative data analysis also identified and examined subgroups of children who are most vulnerable to malnutrition or who suffer from poor feeding practices.