Publications

Healthy feeding habits significantly impact the well-being of individuals within communitiesby providing essential nutrients for growth and development. This study aimed to examinethe various factors influencing inadequate feeding patterns among children under five yearsold admitted to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital's pediatric ward. Employing bothquantitative and qualitative methods, the study highlighted key findings from interviewswith respondents. Notably, a significant portion of parents (42.7%) of hospitalized childrenfell within the 16-30 age group. The focus on this age bracket stemmed from the criticalphase of weaning children from breastfeeding, potentially impacting their immunesystems—a concern highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008 regardingthe hospitalization of under-five children due to malaria and compromised immune statusesafter weaning. The study emphasized the profound impact of illness on feeding patterns,with approximately 47.2% of children experiencing frequent sickness and 47.5% undergoingchanges in treatment during their hospital stay. Financial constraints were also a prevalentissue, with nearly 40% of mothers lacking funds at some point, directly affecting their abilityto maintain adequate feeding practices and potentially leading to malnutrition in childrenunder five. Overall, the study identified illness as a primary driver of poor feeding habitsamong hospitalized children, often resulting in loss of appetite and vomiting. Concurrently,poverty emerged as another significant contributor to inadequate feeding practices in thisdemographic, highlighting the multifaceted nature of challenges affecting the nutritionalwell-being of under-five children in the hospital setting.Keywords: Good feeding, Poor feeding patterns, Pediatric ward, Children under five,Mothers.