A Study on the Health Status of Children (0-36 Months Old) of Head Porters in Markola Market, Accra

Abstract

This is a cross sectional study that was done to assess the health status of children (0-36 months) in Markola market in Accra. The environment in which a child grows and plays in eventually has an effect on the health of the child. Most Head potters and their children at Makola usually sleep in the open space and live under poor and unsanitary conditions. This poses a major health risk to these children. This research therefore sought to look at morbidity, level of immunization and the general health status of these children using anthropometric measurements as well as determining the health seeking behavior of the mothers when the children fall ill. At the end of the study 385 mothers were interviewed with regards to their perception of their children’s health. 44%, 34% and 23% of the children had experienced malaria, diarrhea and prolonged cold respectively within the past one month prior to the study. Polio, Diphtheria and Tuberculosis immunization were recorded to have been completed among the children at 75.1%, 73.8% and 80.26% respectively. The age and the type of living area or household of the head porter were found to be significantly associated with health facility use with a p-value 0.02 and 0.001 at 0.05 significant levels respectively. Majority of the children were found to have adequate nutritional status.