Effect of social support networks on maternal knowledge of child health in rural Odisha, India
Journal Title: Journal of Health and Social Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: Mothers’ knowledge of child health is associated with their children’s well-being, and depends on their educational level and social support networks. In India, literature on social support networks as determinants of maternal knowledge of child health is scarce. This research was aimed to fill this gap, focusing on social determinants of maternal knowledge in rural Odisha, India. Methods: A multistage cluster sampling design was adopted for the present study and 379 mothers (age: M = 28.79, SD ± 4.03) were randomly selected by eight villages. A mixed-method research was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Results: Chi square test showed that a low level of maternal knowledge was statistically significant associated with the scheduled tribes/caste, a low level of education, the poorest wealth category, and with early marriage and young maternal age at first birth. The presence in own social support networks of high-educated (ϐ = 0.06, P < .001), female (ϐ = 0.04, P < .01) and old-age (ϐ = 0.05, P < .05) people, and healthcare providers (ϐ = 0.01, P < .01) as members was found to be positively related to a high level of maternal knowledge. Surprisingly, the presence of female (ϐ = 2.68, P < .05) and high-educated people (ϐ = 0.59, P < .05), and at least one healthcare provider (ϐ = 0.33, P < .05) as social support networks members was statistically significant associated with a high level of maternal child-health knowledge also in low-educated mothers. Conclusions: Maternal knowledge of child health does not depend only on the levels of mother’s education, but also on the presence of an effective social support network that include female and high-educated people, and healthcare providers as members. Therefore, policymakers should promote social support networks in order to improve maternal knowledge of child health.
Authors and Affiliations
Ranjan Kumar Prusty, Sayeed Unisa
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP216285
- DOI 10.19204/2017/ffcr8
- Views 128
- Downloads 0
Complications of tattoos and tattoos removal: state-of-the-art in Italy
Introduction: Modern tattoo removal began as a science approximately 20 years ago, and relatively few advances have been made since then. The aim of this study is twofold: first, to review the complications of tattoos an...
Depressive symptoms and overwork among physicians employed at a university hospital in Japan
Introduction: The excessive workload of Japanese hospital physicians is a serious social problem due to effects on their mental health status, as well as the potential for medical errors and lawsuits. The extent of overw...
Comparison of conventional versus robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty using the Mako system: An Italian retrospective study
Introduction: Our research aimed to evaluate differences in terms of length of hospital stay and clinical outcomes between robotic-arm assisted using MAKO system and standard manual implantation in a group of patients wh...
Is there health inequity in Europe today? The ‘strange case’ of the application of an European regulation to cartilage repair
An important regulation, issued by the European Community in 2008, regulates the authorisation and supervision of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) and subsequent follow up in Europe. This law contains a Hospita...
The health of healthcare: Emergency department physician well-being
Introduction: Physician health and well-being is an important issue that ultimately aff ects job performance. We compared the self-reported incidence of known medical issues, physical and mental health symptoms, and heal...