Evaluating the Effects of Fundamental Skills among Mothers in Reducing Child Mortality During the First 1000 Days of Childhood: A Case Study of Kanyama Constituency of Lusaka District

The study empirically evaluates the effects of fundamental maternal skills on reducing child mortality during the first 1000 days of life in Kanyama Constituency, Lusaka. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from 50 randomly sampled mothers with children under two years. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analysis. The results reveal that 77.1% of mothers could recognize danger signs in childhood illness, and 50% regularly attended clinics. However, only 28% practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six months. A statistically significant relationship was found between household income and dietary diversity (χ² = 20.12, p = 0.003), and between maternal employment status and exclusive breastfeeding duration (χ² = 21.40, p = 0.011). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.5962, p = 0.0000) was observed between confidence in healthcare decision-making and nutritional knowledge. Maternal education programs demonstrated effectiveness, with 78% of participants changing childcare practices post-training, yet 36% of mothers remained unaware of such programs. The study concludes that fundamental maternal skills are decisive for child survival but are constrained by structural barriers. It recommends policy reforms for inclusive maternal education, poverty reduction, and supportive workplace policies to enhance the effectiveness of maternal skills in reducing child mortality.