Mothers' nutrition knowledge and child nutritional status in India

Analyses the effects on children's nutritional status of their mothers' knowledge of nutrition while controlling for the effects of the socio-economic characteristics of the family. In almost every test of the effects of various aspects of nutritional knowledge on weight for age and height for age, per capita monthly income was a significant intervening factor; the exception was the knowledge of ORS preparation. In the case of weight for height, house construction type was a significant intervening factor. The authors conclude that, unless mothers' economic status improves simultaneously with nutrition knowledge, they may not be able to practise what they know, but that it is nevertheless essential to increase their nutrition knowledge. -Authors