The Importance of Socioeconomic Determinants as Predictors of Maternal Nutrition Knowledge and Undernutrition Among Children Under Five

Background: Socioeconomic factors may influence maternal nutrition knowledge, which directly affects the nutritional status of children under five. This study seeks to explore the importance of socioeconomic status (SES) in relation to maternal nutrition knowledge, as well as how these factors influence children's nutritional status. Method: This cross-sectional study focused on mothers of children aged 36-59 months (n=657). A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data socioeconomic determinants. Anthropometric measurements were taken to assess the nutritional status of the children. The Boruta algorithm, implemented using R Studio, was used to integrate socioeconomic factors and identify key predictors of maternal nutrition knowledge and nutrition status. Result: The analysis revealed that SES was a strong predictor of maternal nutrition knowledge and nutritional status in children under five, particularly stunting and wasting. However, SES was not confirmed as a predictor of underweight. Underweight was an important predictor for stunting and wasting. Furthermore, weaning practices and exclusive breastfeeding were found to be important predictors for underweight, suggesting the importance of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices for nutritional status. Conclusion: SES is an important determinant in predicting maternal nutrition knowledge and nutrition status (stunting and wasting) among children under five. These findings underscore the importance of specific nutrition interventions, which must be prioritised by addressing SES and require multi-sectoral strategies to reduce poverty, promote maternal nutrition knowledge, support family income, and improve healthcare access.