INFLUENCE OF MOTHERS’ PARTICIPATION IN INTRA-HOUSEHOLD DECISION MAKING ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate effects of mothers’ participation in intra-household decision making on the nutritional status of their children. The paper relied solely on analysis of data for Northern Region of Ghana, collected as part of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Feed the Future population baseline survey conducted in 2012. Multiple Linear Regression Model was used in examining mothers’ participation in intra-household decision making on children’s weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height which were used as proxies for children’s nutritional status. Results of the analysis revealed that, the Region is still far from achieving the MDG 1 target of attaining 1.8% malnutrition prevalence rate, as stunting, underweight and wasting prevalence rates among children in the region were found to be 27%, 25% and 13% respectively. The analysis also found mothers’ participation in intra-household decision making, ownership and control of household resources as significant in influencing positively children’s nutritional status. Increasing participation and power of women in intra-household decision making process are imperative in improving children nutritional status and reducing malnutrition prevalence among children under five years. It is therefore recommended that programmes and projects aimed at promoting sustainable nutritional wellbeing among children should consider empowering mothers of children so as to promote their status and barging power in intra-household decision making process.