The effect of a practical nutrition education programme on feeding skills of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy at Muhimbili National Hospital, in Tanzania

BACKGROUND: Feeding children with cerebral palsy (CP) is challenging and can lead to poor health outcomes. Using a facility-based intervention, we assessed the effect of a practical nutrition programme on feeding skills in caregivers of children with CP attending a pediatric clinic in urban Tanzania. METHODS: A randomized-controlled intervention study, involving 2-block stratified sample of under-5 CP children attending a specialized pediatric clinic at the Muhimbili National Hospital was done. One hundred ten moderate-to-severe, new and follow-up cases of children with CP were randomly allocated to the intervention (N = 63) and control groups (N = 47). A short nutrition education on feeding and positioning skills was provided to caregivers and occupational therapy sessions to CP children. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses of collected data were done. Statistical significance was assessed at p < .05. FINDINGS: The intervention significantly improved feeding skills of caregiver in the select indicators assessed. More caregivers appropriately positioned the children (AOR = 5.29; 95% CI: 2.00-13.96), fed children slowly (AOR: 5.17, 95% CI: 1.99-13.44), and involved the child during the feeding process (AOR = 3.46; 95% CI: 1.42-8.44). During feeding, caregiver's reported being less stressed (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.04-6.13) and the child's mood was more likely to be reported as improved (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.33-7.474). Although changes were observed in oral motor feeding skills (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI: 0.72-3.91) and functional feeding skills (AOR = 2.28; 95% CI: 0.86-6.06), they did not reach statistical significance in the multivariable models. CONCLUSION: Strengthening nutrition education and services for caregivers of children with CP has great value in the care of children with special needs and may improve the health outcomes of children as well as reduce stress among parents/caregivers.