Social Service Providers' Perceptions on Child Malnutrition in Three East African Slums

This dissertation discusses the perceptions of social service providers on social factors associated with malnutrition in children under five living in three East African slums. This research project determines the perception of different social service providers, such as social workers and care providers, on existing social factors in three specific slums. This project aims to equip social service providers in helping the affected families identify tangible social factors associated with malnutrition in children under five living in the three slums. Social workers and care providers in Africa argue that a large number of children under the age of five continue to be hit hard by malnutrition in slum areas. Social service providers note that most of the social factors associated with malnutrition in the slum areas can be addressed if all the concerned stakeholders pull their efforts together in addressing this challenge. This study's methodology follows a qualitative approach where face-to-face interviews were administered to a select group of social service providers. Their responses were collated and analyzed with an aim toward drawing conclusions on levels of malnutrition in three slums. Ultimately, the study finds that cases of malnutrition are definitely evident in the three slums studied. The main factors that cause malnutrition are classifiable as socioeconomic, behavioral, or environmental. These factors could be addressed through economic empowerment and facilitation of social service providers in educating mothers on the nutritional requirements and health education. Even though the social service providers are teaching mothers in the slums, there is a need for more empowered community outreach programs to reduce cases of malnutrition in children under five.