Maternal Knowledge and Practices Regarding Childhood Anemia in Cameroon: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Anemia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 in Cameroon. This study aimed to assess whether mothers’ knowledge of children aged 6 to 59 months about the causes and prevention of anemia influences their practices. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design with both descriptive and analytical components to investigate the impact of knowledge on practices. A questionnaire was administered during an interview to all mothers of children aged 6 to 59 months attending the selected services. Knowledge was poor or insufficient if the percentage of correct answers for knowledge questions was Results: In our study, 436 mothers were approached, 31 refused participation, and 405 (92.9%) agreed to participate. Our study showed that having a primary (RR = 6.558; CI = [2.165 - 19.86], p Conclusion: Mothers’ knowledge of their child’s anemia influences their practices, and this knowledge needs to be improved to optimize them.