Nutritional status and pattern of infant feeding practices among children under five in a rural community of northwestern Nigeria
Idris, S.H.; Popoola-Zakariyya, B.; Sambo, M.N.; Sufyan, M.B.; Abubakar, A.
International Quarterly of Community Health Education 33(1): 83-94
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0272-684X PMID: 23570830 DOI: 10.2190/iq.33.1.gDocument Number: 574061
The study assessed the factors influencing nutritional status of children less than five years in Biye village in rural Nigeria. The study was a cross sectional descriptive study: 119 caregivers and mothers were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data using multi-stage sampling. Anthropometric measurements of children were also taken. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0. Respondents age ranged from 11-50 years, mean age of 26 (± 11.7); 79.8% had Quranic education; and 50.4% were not gainfully employed. Two-thirds (68.9%) were polygamous, and 64.7% had 1-3 children. Less than 1% of children were exclusively breast fed. From anthropometric data obtained, 62.2% were stunted, 12.6% wasted, and 48.7% underweight. A statistically significant relationship exists between family size and children's nutritional status. The prevalence of malnutrition was high with poor child feeding practices. Thus, healthcare providers should carry out community-wide health education on the need to promote appropriate infant feeding practices and nutritional status.