An assessment of the causes of malnutrition in Ethiopia: A ...

(Woldemariam & Timotiwos 2002). Other studies in Ethiopia have also indicated the
importance of woman’s education in improving nutritional status (Save the Children
Fund (UK) 2002, Christiaensen & Alderman 2004). Maternal education may operate
in improving child nutrition through changing caring practices, health seeking
behavior and recognition of the symptoms of malnutrition (WHO et al. 1999) or
through improving caregiver’s status and enabling decision on family’s resources.
Smith and Haddad (2000) show from evidence elsewhere that improved woman’s
education has made the largest (43 percent) contribution to reducing childhood
malnutrition in recent decades (Figure 4.16).
Beyond its important role in raising household income, there are at least four
pathways establishing a direct link between the education of the caregiver and their
children that may account for the additional role of schooling in improving child
nutrition:
• Schooling transmits information about health and nutrition directly,
• It teaches numeracy and literacy, thereby assisting caregivers in acquiring
information;
• It makes caregivers receptive to modern medical treatment and practices; and
• It imparts self-confidence, which enhances women’s role in intra-household
decision-making and in their interactions with health care providers.
4.3.3.2. Correlation between educational attainment and household consumption
levels
When woman’s educational status increases, opportunity for employment may also
increase. Education itself is one of the most important resources to enhance caregiver’s
capacity (Armar-Klemesu et al. 2000). Women’s employment increases household income,
with consequent benefit to household nutrition in general and the woman’s nutritional status
in particular. Employment may increase women’s status and power, and may encourage a
woman’s preference to spend her earnings on health and nutrition. Women’s employment
could provide an additional income source that can improve food security of the household
and raise the status of women by allowing them to have more control over household
resources (Ruel & Arimond 2003; Save the Children Fund (UK) 2002).
However, employed women without control over their income and decision-making
authority within the household are deprived of economic and social power and the ability to
take actions that will benefit their own well-being (14). On the other hand, education
increases the awareness of caregivers about the benefits of caring and brings about better
caring practices (WHO et al. 1999).
4.3.3.3. Nutrition - specific education
Caregiver’s awareness about the importance of nutritional interventions enhances
their caring practices. Lessons learned from behavior change communication (BCC) on child
caring (optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices) in Ghana, Bolivia and
Madagascar showed improved caring practices after the interventions (Guyon & Quinn 2004).
Evidence from other countries indicates that knowledge and practices are key factors for
caring, and maternal education is strongly and positively associated with better child feeding,
health seeking and hygiene practices. Thus, it appears that the positive effectof maternal
education on child outcomes is attained largely by improved care practices (Winkvist 1995).
A study on Ethiopia confirmed this, showing that maternal knowledge of nutrition and caring
practices is a critical factor that has to be considered in promoting child nutrition
(Christiaensen & Alderman 2004).
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