ABSTRACT
The nutritional well-being of infants and young children is positively and negatively affected by the interaction between food intake, health and care. This study examined socio-economic factors influencing food consumption pattern and anthropometric status of preschool children (2-5 years) in Bende L.G.A. Abia State. Multi-stage random sampling was used to select communities and households. A total number of 228 children aged 2- 5 years, were used in the study. Data were collected using questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Frequency and percentages were used to analyze personal data of the children and socio economic variables of their parents. Chi Square was used to measure association between socio-economic status of parent and anthropometric indices, and feeding pattern of the children and their parents income level. The result showed that 51.3% were females. The age of the children indicated that, 72.4% were 5 years. On the type of family, the result showed that, majority (90.4%) were from monogamous families. Majority (89.9%) of the children lived with both parents, and the family size showed that 85.5% were 2 to 4 persons in their households. The children’s mothers and fathers ages indicated that, 69.7% were between 31 to 40 years. On the food consumption patterns of the children, the number of times eaten by the children showed that, majority (89.9%) ate 3 times a day, and 61.0% of their mothers determined what they ate. The sources of family food showed that, 69.7% purchased from the market and more than half (59.2%) were fed by their mothers. Meals usually skipped by the children showed that, 48.4% did not skip meals. There were positive association between all the socio-economic variables of their parents, mothers education (x2 = 359.690, 0.45), fathers education (x2 = 405.233, 0.014), mothers occupation (x2 = 456.883, 0.028), fathers occupation (x2 = 456.883, 0.028), family income (x2 = 390.919, 0.043) and family monthly expenditure (x2 = 432.438, 0.035) and the children’s anthropometric status. There were positive associations between income levels of the parents, number of times eaten in a day (x2 = 405.233, 0.014), factors that determined food eaten (x2 = 200.271, 0.025), the child favourite meals (x2 = 50.919, 0.04) and food consumption pattern of the children. In conclusion, factor that determine food eaten, sources of family food and food consumption pattern of the children are income level of the parents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS viii
LIST OT TABLES ix
ABSTRACT x
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Statement Of Problem 4
1.2. Objectives of the Study 5
1.3. Significance of the Study 6
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.2. Consequences and Prevalence of Malnutrition 7
2.1. Malnutrition 8
2.1.1. Over-nutrition 8
2.1.2. Under-nutrition 9
2.2. History Of Malnutrition In Nigeria 12
2.4. Food and Its Functions 13
2.5. Food Consumption and Pattern 15
2.6. Household Food Consumption Pattern 16
2.7. Socio-economic Factors Influencing Food Consumption Pattern 17
2.7.1. Family size and its composition 18
2.7.2. Geographical areas 18
2.7.3. Mother’s occupation 19
2.7.4. Income 19
2.7.5. Age of child 19
2.7.6. Education 20
2.7.7. Mother’s Education 20
2.7.8. Marital status 21
2.7.9. Sex of child 21
2.8. Anthropometric Measurements of Preschool Children 21
2.8.1. Nutritional anthropometry 22
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1. Study Design 26
3.2. Study Area 26
3.3. Population of Study 26
3.4. Sampling and Sampling Techniques 26
3.4.1. Sample Size Determination: 26
3.4.2. Sampling Procedures 28
3.5. Preliminary Activities 28
3.5.1. Preliminary visit 28
3.5.2. Training of research assistants 28
3.5.3. Informed consent 29
3.6. Data Collection 29
3.6.1. Questionnaire administration 29
3.6.2. Interview 29
3.6.3. Anthropometric assessment 29
3.6.4. Dietary measurements 31
3.7. Data Analysis 31
3.8. Statistical Analysis 31
CHAPTER 4
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Basic Characteristics of the Child and Parents 32
4.2 The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Parents 34
4.3 Food Consumption Patterns of the Children 37
4.4 Frequency of Consumption of Food by the Children 40
4.5 24 Hour dietary recall of the children 45
4.6. Anthropometric Measurement 52
4.7 Association Between Basic Information/ Socio-Economic Status of the Parents and Anthropometric Status of the Children 54
4.8 Association Between Income Level of the Parents and Food Consumption Pattern of the Children 56
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion 44
5.2 Recommendation 44
REFERNCE 45
List of Tables
4.1 Basic Characteristics of the Child and Parents 33
4.2 Parents Socio-Economic Characteristics 36
4.3 Food Consumption Patterns of the Children 39
4.4 Frequency of Consumption of Food by the Children 43
4.5 24 hours food recall 46
4.6 Anthropometric measurements represented as body mass index 53
4.7 Association Between Basic Information/ Socio-Economic Status of the Parents and Anthropometric Status of the Children 54
4.8 Association Between Income Level of the Parents and Food Consumption Pattern of the Children 56
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The nutritional well-being of infants and young children is positively and negatively affected by the interaction between food intake, health and care. Most important, inadequate intake of food, energy and nutrients remains highly prevalent in developing countries (Petrou and Kupek, 2010). Scarcity, the rising prices of food and other environmental factors such as weather cycles, instability of food transport have been linked to inadequate consumption of appropriate foods in children (Hendricks, 2010).
Growth is an essential component in the evaluation of children’s health. It is at its peak during the school age and there are a number of changes that take place with which they have to cope with. The nature of children’s physical development is also an important indicator of the general well-being of a society, because it reflects not only socioeconomic and food safety conditions but also on bio-physiological and environmental conditions (Black et al., 2013). The living conditions (i.e., socioeconomic, healthcare-related, nutritional, and environmental) to which children are exposed to during the intrauterine period and childhood may influence their ability to reach their maximum growth potential (Villar et al., 2014).
Globally it is estimated that under-nutrition is responsible, directly or indirectly, for at least 35% of deaths in children less than five years of age (United Nations Children’s Education Fund, (UNICEF) (2007). Under nutrition is also a major cause of disability, preventing surviving children from reaching their full developmental potential (UNICEF, 2009). Inappropriate feeding practices may account for approximately one-third of malnutrition, depending on population, place, time and season, and in combination with other causes such as infection and food shortage (UNICEF, 2009).
In sub-Saharan Africa, about 2% of deaths and 3% of disability-adjusted life occurred in children under-five years (Nemer et al., 2001). It is well-known fact that socio-economic and environmental conditions, in addition to the feeding patterns, are important determinants of malnutrition in developing countries (Nyovani and Mpoma, 2007). Malnutrition is one of the most important global health problems, affecting large numbers of children in developing Countries (Filiz et al., 2007). In developing countries it is postulated that poverty and ignorance are primary casual factors of malnutrition, which is associated with an inadequate diet, poor health and sanitation services as well as inadequate care given to children (Filiz et al., 2007).
Malnutrition (poor nutritional status) constitutes a major public health problem in most developing countries including Nigeria. A lot of the population cannot afford enough to eat and most of them live in very poor environment (Odunayo and Oyewole, 2006). Malnutrition substantially raises the risk of infant and child deaths, and increases vulnerability to a variety of diseases in later life (Filiz et al., 2007). Both prevalence and the severity of food insecurity increase as household in-comes decrease (Carlson et al., 1999). The children from households with a low or very low socioeconomic status had 2.5 times the risk of being underweight relative to children who came from households with middle to upper socioeconomic status. Children from better socioeconomic classes would naturally have better nutrition and better environment (Odunayo and Oyewole, 2006). Low levels of nutrition adversely affect physical and mental growth of children. The type and quantity of various foods is based on socio-culture and economic considerations. It is a well-known fact that socio-economic and environmental conditions, in addition to the feeding patterns, are important determinants of malnutrition in developing countries (Odunayo and Oyewole, 2006; Nyovani and Mpoma, 2007).
Food consumption patterns that are developed during childhood affect the child’s health and nutritional status during adulthood. Nutrition affects health throughout the life cycle and it is best to prevent malnutrition early in life, therefore, it is very important to monitor the nutritional status of any country to determine the productive rate of that nation, since good food or diet can prolong life, well -being and promote human development (Bryce et al., 2008).
The importance of good diet cannot be overlooked because food and eating well can make the difference between being alive or dead and being well or sick. Nutritional assessment from the early age of children may enable them to have a chance of changing their eating habits and consequently their nutritional status before reaching adulthood (Caulfield et al., 2004a).
Anthropometric measurements are often used for assessing the extent and severity of malnutrition. It has an important place in nutritional epidemiology and has advantage over the other nutritional assessment methods used because; it is applicable, inexpensive, non-invasive method (World Health Organization, (WHO) (2005a). It is also a sensitive measure of nutritional status because growth and body size are influenced by dietary intake, energy intake and general health. Slowing of growth is an early response of nutritional inadequacy (Barrie and Michael, 2007).
For children’s anthropometric measurement; the indicators that are usually used are weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight for height. Weight for age reflects body mass relative to age. Low weight for age index identifies children who are underweight based on their age. This index reflects both past and present under nutrition. Height-for-age, is for children aged 2 years and above and low in height-for-age is referred to as stunting. This condition reflects past under nutrition or chronic malnutrition (Barrie and Michael, 2007).
This study is designed to look at the socio-economic factors influencing food consumption patterns and anthropometric status of pre-school children in Bende L.G.A. Abia State.
1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 70% of the 11.5 million deaths annually among children under five (WHO, 2005b). About 170 million children under five years of age (almost one-third of the developing world’s children) are still malnourished (Smith and Haddad, 2000a). It has been projected that under the most likely circumstances, about 135 million children under the age of five in developing countries will be malnourished by 2020 (Pinstrup-Andersen , 2000).
Each year, children die as a result of complications from different illnesses and malnutrition. In the rural areas, it is mainly inadequate nutrition and over dependency on particular kinds of food that may contribute to child mortality. If the child is lucky to survive, the result is a depleted, malnourished and under-weight child. All people particularly children need a variety of foods to meet the requirements for essential nutrients and the value of diverse diet is of great importance to children’s nutritional status (UNICEF, 2009).
Eating is usually an enjoyable experience with a social as well as a nutritional dimension but for many children in the rural areas, it is a monotonous exercise. Most parents believe in having one particular type of food on the table instead of having variety of adequate diet because that is what they know and were brought up with (UNICEF, 2009).
Food consumption patterns are critical issues in Nigeria where they indicated high prevalent rate of child mortality (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, (NDHS) (2013). Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) prevalence among children from zero to 59 months of age is 8.7% nationally. According to (NDHS, 2013), malnutrition has declined from 41% in 2008 to 37% in 2013. What that shows is that within the span of five years, Nigeria was able to reduce malnutrition by 4% which is still not encouraging. It is something that calls for every Nigerian to rise up to see that nutritional status of children and mothers are improved. All forms of malnutrition are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic costs, particularly where both under and over-nutrition co-exist as is the case in developing countries undergoing nutrition transition (UNICEF, 2006).
Socio-economic status such as the mother s education and occupation, household income and health expenditure may influence malnutrition indirectly (Ukwuani and Suchindran, 2003). Also a number of factors may be directly causative, including micronutrient deficiencies, inadequate protein intake, intrauterine malnutrition, maternal stature and infections (Saleemi et al., 2001). Mother and child nutritional status are affected by socioeconomic factors, in turn, these affect nutrient intake and the prevalence of infection. People in the higher socioeconomic level have more financial power, can afford whatever kinds of foods that are needed and also have access to environmentally better living conditions. Based on these, they are less susceptible to infection and under-nutrition (Anyang, 2003). In the lower economic sector, people are financially handicapped and can hardly afford adequate foods. Their living conditions are also very poor as many people are crowded in very poor sanitary conditions. Foods are handled in an unhygienic environment. Lack of food or food scarcity is a major problem in most parts of West Africa and in developing countries (Smith and Haddad, 2000a). This study therefore seeks to identify the socioeconomic factors influencing food consumption patterns and anthropometric status of preschool children (2-5 years) in Bende L.G.A. Abia State.
1.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general aim of this study is to assess the socioeconomic factors influencing food consumption pattern and anthropometric status of preschool children (2-5 years) in Bende L.G.A. Abia State.
The specific objectives are to:
i. Assess the basic information of the preschool children and socioeconomic status of their parents.
ii. Assess the food consumption patterns of the preschool children.
iii. Assess the anthropometric status of the preschool children.
iv. Determine the effects of socioeconomic status of the household on the food consumption patterns of the children and their anthropometric status.
1.3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will highlight the food consumption pattern and anthropometric status of preschool children in Bende L.G.A. The findings of this study will provide useful information on the nutritional status of preschool children in the study area which will help the health workers who often lack adequate information in educating the parents especially mothers and caregiver on dealing with the nutritional problems of pre-school children.
The result of the study will show the relationship between the food consumption pattern of the children and their anthropometric status. The findings obtained from this study will help in providing advice to the parents and caregiver of pre-school children in terms of consumption of adequate diets thereby improving good health for the pre-school children. It will also help the state ministry of health to plan appropriate nutrition intervention programmes to improve the food consumption pattern and anthropometric status of preschool children in Bende L.G.A and the state in general.
Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects
FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!
+(234) 0814 780 1594
Login To Comment