Effect of social support networks on maternal knowledge of child health in rural Odisha, India
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 aime...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Edizioni FS
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHHS21_99-118-1.pdf |
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| Summary: | 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. |
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| ISSN: | 2499-2240 2499-5886 |