More time or more money to improve nutrition in Benin Republic?

M. C. D. N. Vodouhe, L. Fakambi Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin (INRAB) (2015) C2
Children malnutrition eradication in developing countries is a real challenge, especially among vulnerable population. There are so many effort towards women (who are the main care providers) socio-economic situation in order to improve their children nutrition. This article aims to identify the impact of mothers’ activities on child nutrition and care. Interviews were used to collect data from mothers of children less than 5 years old. Pearson correlation test and regression models were performed to highlight relation and to identify the main factors that affect child nutrition and care. The nutritional statuses of children show a high prevalence of underweight (38.46%), emaciation (25.17%) and stunting (23.77%). Statistic results show that a child whose mother has food processing as main activity has 2,322 more times to not suffer from emaciation malnutrition compared to a child whose mother has trade as main activity. A child whose mother has high revenue has 1.463 more times to not be suffering from stunting malnutrition compared to a child whose mother has lower revenue. A child whose father has fishing as main activity has 8,4 more chance to not be suffering from stunting malnutrition compared to a child whose father has another activity as main activity. A child whose father is present in the household has 8.11 more chance to not suffer from stunting malnutrition compared to a child whose father is absent. A child from mother who has food processing as main activity is 2,464 more times preserved from fever compared to a child from mother whose main activity is trade. Moreover child position, child feeding with porridge, child nursing are correlated with mother activity. This situation is justified by the fact that mother need money to improve child nutrition and health but they are also confronted to the fact that those activity that provide significant money are sometime time consuming and not permit to take care of children in term of feeding practices, hygiene control etc. Therefore it is important that intervention towards women take in consideration those factors (money and time) but also the family in the whole.