The Implementation of Nutritional Health Programs for Children Under Five Years Old During the Covid-19 Pandemic in a District Area in Lanao Del Sur, Philippines

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of nutritional health programs for children under the age of five as well as the problems and challenges associated with their implementation in five rural health units located in five municipalities of Lanao del Sur. This study utilized the convergent mixed methods research design, specifically a concurrent triangulation mixed methods technique. In the first phase of the study, which was the quantitative phase, the research questions were address the perspectives of healthcare workers on the implementation of nutritional health programs for children under the age of five. In the second qualitative phase, five case studies were chosen, one head from each of the five RHUs to investigate the difficulties encountered in the implementation of nutritional health programs in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 62 community healthcare workers. Twenty nurses or midwives from each of the five municipalities were selected. The results revealed that despite the successful implementation of the nutrition programs, the healthcare workers faced challenges and problems. The findings of this study aid in the creation of effective solutions to address the factors that contribute to child undernutrition in Lanao del Sur.