ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS LEADING TO MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN 0 – 5 YEARS IN DUTSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. (A CASE STUDY OF DUTSE GENERAL HOSPITAL.)

 ABSTRACT

This study assessed the factors associated with Malnutrition in Children under five years of age in Dutse General Hospital, Dutse Local Government Jigawa State. The study used primary data collected from the respondents using closed structured questionnaires. The study includes 30 under five children together with their mothers or care takers who visited Dutse General Hospital for medical care during the study period. The data was analyzed using frequency and percentage table and the results of study indicate that 18(60.0℅) of the children were female and majority were aged 24-35months 12(40.0℅), 5(17.0℅) aged 0-11months, 6(20.0℅) age 12-24month, 4(13.0℅) aged 36-37months and 3(10.0℅) age 48—579months. The analyses revealed that (40.0℅) were severely wasted, (26.7℅) were moderately wasted and (33. 3℅) were normal. This study also found that (23.3%) of the children were severely stunted, (20%) were moderately stunted and (56.7%) were not stunted. Furthermore, the analyses stated that (46.7%) were underweight. (20%) were severely underweight, (26.7%) were moderately underweight and (53.3%) were not underweight. The major contributing factors for under five malnutrition were found to be children number, father’s education, mother’s education, father’s occupation and finally income were found to be significantly associated with malnutrition.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 INTRODUCTION …………………………….…………….……………..………………………..….……….……1

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM …………………………………………………………………………….......2

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY ………………………………………………………………..…….…..3

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS …………………………..……………………………………………..…….….….…...3

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ……………………………………………………………………...…….…….3

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION ……………………………………...…………………...…...……………..……...….3

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ………………………....……………………………………….….…3

CHAPTER TWO

LITRETURE REVIEW

2.0 OVERVIEW ………………………………..……………….…….…………………………………….……...…….4

2.1 MALNUTRITION …………………………………..…………………………………...…………..…..…………..4

2.2 NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES ………………………………………………………………...………………....9

2.3 CHILD MALNUTRITION ……………………………………………..…………………………...….……….......12

2.4 MEASURES TOWARDS ELIMINATING MALNUTRITION …………………..…..……………....…………....15

2.5 NUTRITION OF CHILDREN AND ITS IMPORTANCE ………………………..…………….……......…….......15

2.6 MEANING OF BALANCED DIET …………………….………………………………….….....………………….16

2.7 NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR INFANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD ……….…………..…..…..….18

2.8 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MALNUTRITION AND INFECTIONS ……….….………….……………...18

2.9 THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE.…….…...........................…19

2.10 FACTORS AFFECTING NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN ………..…………..…….…......….……..20

2.11 SOCIO-ECONOMIC/HOUSEHOLD FACTORS ………….…….…………………..……………………...……..22

2.12 RESEARCH GAPS ………………………….………………….………………….……...……….………...…….24

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 OVERVIEW …………………………………………………………….………………………………...………...25

3.1 STUDY AREA ………………………………………………………………………………………...…….....…...25

3.2. RESEARCH APPROACH ………………………………………………..………………………...……………....25

3.3. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION ………….……………………………….……………………..……….......25

3.4. INSTRUMENT USED FOR DATA COLLECTION …………………………...…………….……..…………..….26

3.5. DATAANALYSIS …....……………………………………………….……………………………..………….......26

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT AND DICUSSION

4.0 OVERVIEW ………………………………………….…………………………………………………….……….27

4.1 RESULT ……………………………………………….………………………………….……………………… ..27

4.2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS OF MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27

4.3 HEALTH FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MALNUTRITION ……………………….………………………….30

4.4 CHILD HEALTH PRACTICES BY MOTHERS …………………………………….…………………................31

4.5 NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE ………………….………………....33

4.6 DISCUSSION ………………………………………….………………………………….……………………… ..34

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMENDATION

5.0 OVERVIEW ……………………………………………………………………….……………………...…………38

5.1 CONCLUSION …………………………………………………….………………..………………….…….….….38

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS …………………………………………….…….………….………………………..……39

5.3 REFERENCES …………………………………………………….………….…….…….…………………….…...40

APPENDICES ……………………………………………………….…….……………………………………..….…..46 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Malnutrition according to world health organization (2016), Malnutrition is a condition that results from deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.

The term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions. One is ‘under nutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related no communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).

However according to Anderson AS and Anil Ray (2012), Malnutrition can also occur when an individual’s diet does not provide him/her with adequate calories and proteins needed for maintenance and growth or they cannot fully utilize the food they eat due to illness (under nutrition), while those who suffer from over nutrition consumes too much calories. Malnutrition is not exclusively a problem of extreme poverty, nor only of the young, but affects all communities around the world and people of all ages including pregnant women.

Globally, Malnutrition is regarded as the most important risk factor for illness and death and it is associated with 52.5 % of all deaths in young children (Müller O and Krawinkel M, 2005).

According to UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank, out of the 161 million under-fives estimated to be stunted globally in 2013, over a third resided in Africa. It is considered is a major cause of child morbidity and mortality globally. There are several interventions to prevent the condition, but it is unclear how well they are taken up by both malnourished and well-nourished children and their mothers and the extent to which this is influenced by socio-economic factors (Tette et al. 2015).

Malnourished children are more likely to suffer from impaired physical and intellectual growth which makes them less productive during adulthood (Smith et al., 1999).  Glewwe et al. (2001) have reported that poor school performance, increased school absenteeism, reduced intellectual achievement, delayed cognitive development and increased disease morbidity and mortality are common effects of malnutrition among under-five children.  In low and middle income countries (LMICs), it is estimated that about 10 million children die from treatable and preventable illnesses annually (UNICEF, 2000). Nutrition is directly or indirectly linked to the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) (National Population Commission, 2014), and it is critical in the overall development of individuals and the nation at large.  On the other hand, malnutrition remains a major health problem and is responsible for one-third of all infant and child mortality especially in third world countries (Bryce et al., 2005; Muller et al., 2005; UNICEF/WHO/World Bank, 2012; WHO, 2013).  Malnutrition is the consumption of dietary nutrient either insufficiently or exclusively.

Factors such as poverty, failure to breastfeed exclusively, maternal factors such as poor nutrition during pregnancy, lack of appropriate weight gain, illnesses like diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, poor consumption of vitamin supplements or fortified foods, large family size, poor sanitation, lack of education and information about good or adequate nutrition and food insecurity and safety have been identified as factors that affect under-five children’s nutritional status (Babatunde et al. 2007).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In most countries, it is often observed that child mortality arises from the synergistic impact of effect of under-nutrition and infection (Black et al., 2008). Children who are severely malnourished are susceptible to impaired cognitive growth and development which consequently affect them later in life as they grow older (Black et al., 2008).  Long-term malnutrition among children under five years of age results from poor dietary intake which can adversely lead to dysfunction of the physical and mental health (Victoria et al., 2008; WHO, 2013). 

The burden of malnutrition commonly occurs within the African and Asian countries of the world.  Evidence-based studies have shown that, of the 162 million children under five years who were stunted, 36% of them resided in Africa while 56% were found in Asia (UNICEF/WHO/World Bank, 2012). Victoria et al. (2008) reported that an estimated 60 million under-five children were found to be stunted out of which 11 million were Nigerian children.  In Nigeria, the pattern and severity of childhood malnutrition has steadily increased from 11% in 2003 to 18% in 2013 for wasting; 24% in 2003 to 29% in 2013 for underweight, although there was a decline from 42% in 2003 to 37% in 2013 for children who were stunted (National Population Commission, 2013).

1.3.1 Aim of the Study

The study aimed at finding the factors leading to malnutrition among children from 0-5 years of Dutse LGA Jigawa state, a case study of Dutse General Hospital.

1.3.2 Objectives of the Study

1.      To examine the current nutritional status of children of 0-5 years of Dutse LGA, Jigawa state.

2.      To identify the determinant of malnutrition among children of 0-5 years Dutse LGA, Jigawa state.

3.      To assess the prevalence and identify the risk factors of malnutrition among children less than 5 years in Dutse LGA, Jigawa state.

       1.4 Research Questions

1.      What is the current nutritional status of children of 0-5 years in Dutse LGA, Jigawa state?

2.      What is the determinant of malnutrition among children of 0-5 years in Dutse LGA, Jigawa state?

3.      What is the prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among children less than 5 years in Dutse LGA, Jigawa state?

       1.5 Significance of the Study

The benefits that derived from the outcome of the research work are as follows:  

1.      It provides useful information to parents on how best to provide the necessary nutrition to their children.

2.      Identification of the causes of poor nutrition on children and the implementation of the recommendations, suggestion by various nutritional bodies leaded to better and healthy generation.

3.      The result of the research work is important to parents, government, advisers on child right and wellbeing and education planners.

4.      Lastly, these researches work its make findings and recommendations a good starting point for the investigation in related field in the near future.

       1.6 Scope and Limitation

The study aims to investigate the factors leading to malnutrition among 0-5 years of age. The study is particularly limited to Dutse general Hospital Dutse LGA Jigawa state.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

Diarrheal disease: the passage of loose or watery stools at least three times in a 24h period.

Wasting: is defined as low weight-for-height. It often indicates recent and severe weight loss, although it can also persist for a long time.

Stunting: Stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.

Underweight: Underweight is defined as the proportion of children whose weight in relation to their age is below −2 standard deviations

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF): Feeding a child breast milk only for the first 6 months of life, except medicines.

Complementary feeding: supplementation of breastfeeding with other soft, semi-solid or solid foods to meet the nutritional requirements of children.

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