First 1000 days: first-time mothers’ understanding and experiences of nutritional care

Abstract

ABSTRACT Within South Africa, approximately 1.5 million children suffer from malnutrition and stunting with dire effects on their early development and thriving potential. Nutritional care within the first 1000 days of children's life plays pivotal role in their holistic development when a stable, safe, nurturing and responsive relationship is provided by their mothers. This study explored first-time mothers’ understanding and experiences of nutrition within the first 1000 days of their child's life. A total of 12 first-time mothers with infants aged 4–21 months living in low-income communities in Cape Town completed semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis suggested that mothers generally acknowledged nutrition as crucial for the development of young children; however, many were unfamiliar with the phrase ‘first 1000 days’. The findings provide contextual grounding for the gap in knowledge and awareness of the first 1000 days within South African low-income communities.