INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL HEALTH LITERACY ON HEALTH STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS IN ATISBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OYO STATE.

Abstract

The study investigated influence of maternal health literacy on health status of children under 5
years in Atisbo local government, Oyo State. The purposes of this study were to: (i) identify the
sources of information of nursing mothers on health literacy; (ii) determine the influence of
maternal health literacy on vaccination up-takes; and (iii) nutritional status of children under 5
years. The design of the study was cross-sectional survey based. The sampling techniques used were
purposive, proportionate and systematic to select 200 registered nursing mothers. A validated
structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was
ascertained using test re-test technique. A reliability co-efficient r = .82 was obtained through
PPMC statistical analysis. Data was collected by the researchers with the help of two trained
research assistants. The statistical tool used was percentage to answer the research question one,
while Chi-square statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The
findings of the study showed that majority of the nursing mothers (n= 184, 92%) obtained health
literacy information from health care providers. Also, maternal health literacy had significant
influence on both vaccination up-take and nutritional status of children less than 5 years. Based on
these findings, it was recommended that health care providers should intensify efforts on health
education including importance of immunization against childhood diseases among nursing
mothers. Also, there is need for nursing mothers to be well educated on nutrition from health care
providers in order to improve their children's nutritional status.