A study on Child Health problems and care practices of Dom community

Abstract

The study entitled “Child Health Problems and Care Practices in Dom Community of Itahari municipality of Sunsari District’’ based on primary data collected from 52 children of age group five years from ward no. 8 of Itahari Municipality, Sunsari District to make aware about the economic and cultural factors affecting on child health problems and care practice and also existing situation of child health. The child problem and care practices of Dom community of Itahari, sunsari have not been studied up to now by any aspects. In this area having population 206 in which 110 are male and 96 are female. Among which parents (either father or mother) of all together 52 children of age group five was selected for the study. The 52 children contain 44.23% male and 55.77% female. The structural observation and interview schedule were major tools for the data collection. The data was collected from the parents of the children. The study has tried to present real picture of knowledge of the people of Dom community and also the health condition of the children of age group five. All the respondents were illiterate. Due to lack of education and awareness their economic condition, health condition and way of living was found to be very poor. Majority of them live in houses made up of mud and fence with improper ventilation system, improper source of drinking water. delivery place, practice of antenatal check up, colostrums feeding, breast feeding, child immunization and supplementary food to their children, were not found satisfactory. The intake of iron tablet during the pregnancy, postnatal check up, additional food during pregnancy needs to be improved in the community. Most of the children were found to suffer from various diseases frequently. The diseases like jaundice, pneumonia and diarrhoea were found to be most prevalent diseases among the children. Due to lack of consciousness they still believe in witch doctors like dhami/jhankri. In conclusion, most of the respondents were found limited themselves in family and household works. All the respondents had low socio-economic status so they didn’t take additional food, health facilities, and proper care of child. Similarly, they feed usual meal to their children. Their diet is not balanced diet. The result of the study shows that economic and cultural factors have influenced in some areas/fields of child health and care practice of the study area.