Smith, TJ 
ORCID: 0000-0001-9543-6461, Mbale, E ORCID: 0000-0001-7134-2858, Zieff, MR ORCID: 0000-0001-9352-9947, McHazime, C, Jacobs, CA ORCID: 0009-0003-0850-4625, Makaka, P ORCID: 0009-0007-3862-7369, Williams, S ORCID: 0009-0001-3453-5105, Ghillia, G ORCID: 0009-0006-6379-7063, Herr, D, Miles, M ORCID: 0009-0004-7526-8885 et al (show 4 more authors)
(2025)
Associations between maternal capabilities for care and nurturing care behaviours among mother-child dyads in Malawi and South Africa
Plos Global Public Health, 5 (9 Sept).
e0005017-.
ISSN 2767-3375, 2767-3375
Abstract
Adequate nurturing care behaviours, including feeding practices, health-seeking and psychosocial stimulation, are crucial for the optimal health, growth and development of young children. However, several factors, recognised as maternal ‘capabilities for care’, can influence a mother’s capability to provide adequate care, namely knowledge/beliefs, physical health and nutritional status, mental health, autonomy, reasonable workload/time availability and social support. As part of the Khula birth cohort study, we aimed to investigate if maternal capabilities for care are associated with nurturing care behaviours among mother-child dyads in Malawi (n=122) and South Africa (n=206). When children were 10–16 months of age, mothers competed a series of self-reported sociodemographic, child diet and health and psychosocial questionnaires. Six maternal capabilities for care were considered: haemoglobin concentration, mental health, employment, decision-making autonomy, support for childcare and social support. The nurturing care behaviours were feeding practices, complete immunisation status appropriate to chid age and psychosocial stimulation within the home environment. Regression modelling assessed associations between maternal capabilities for care and each care behaviour, adjusting for child sex, maternal age and education level and household socioeconomic status. Associations between maternal capabilities for care and nurturing care behaviours differed by care behaviour and setting. Maternal employment and decision-making as measures of autonomy, support with childcare as a measure of reasonable workload and reported social support were the maternal capabilities most consistently associated with feeding practices, complete immunisation status and stimulation practices, although the direction of associations differed between settings. Maternal haemoglobin and mental health were associated with one care behaviour each (stimulation and feeding practices, respectively). Measuring and understanding how various maternal capabilities influence caregiving across contexts is essential for empowering caregivers to provide optimal care. Interventions, programmes and policies that seek to improve child health, growth and development through enhanced nurturing care practices should strengthen multiple maternal capabilities.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 4206 Public Health, 42 Health Sciences, 44 Human Society, Basic Behavioral and Social Science, Pediatric Research Initiative, Clinical Research, Social Determinants of Health, Behavioral and Social Science, Mental Health, 7.1 Individual care needs, 2.3 Psychological, social and economic factors, Reproductive health and childbirth, Generic health relevance, Mental health, 3 Good Health and Well Being |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Sep 2025 08:33 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Feb 2026 05:07 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005017 |
| Open Access URL: | https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/artic... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3194254 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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