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Author(s): Bosede Olanike Awoyemi, Iyanu Maryam Abaniwonda.

Volume/Issue: Volume 2 , Issue 2 (2019)

Abstract:

Background: In Nigeria, malnutrition has become a serious health crisis in growing children, especially among under-five children and many factors have been attributed to its causes. This study examined the prevalence rate and socioeconomic determinants of malnutrition among under age 0-59 month’s children in the urban and rural areas of Ekiti state, Nigeria. A Cross-section of 152 children was recruited. Methods: To measure the prevalence of malnutrition, anthropometric measures using the WHO child growth reference standards were employed. Probit model was used to examine the socioeconomic determinants of malnutrition. Results: In the urban, there was prevalence rate of 20.8% in the case of Moderate Acute Malnutrition for HAZ with 9.8% higher rate among male than female and 60(80%) in the rural area. Using Severe Acute Malnutrition for HAZ, the prevalence rate was 16.9% with 20.5% and 12.2% for male and female respectively in urban area, while it was 25.8% higher in the rural area. The prevalence rate was higher among children within the age bracket of 0-11 months. The probit result revealed that the prevalence of malnutrition in urban areas was determined by the parent’s marital status, parent’s type of occupation and the household size. However, for the rural areas, the determinants of malnutrition were mother’s type of occupation and the mother’s level of income. Discussion: The findings indicate that the larger percentage of malnourished and stunted under-five children are male and those within the age range of 0-23months with higher prevalence in the rural area. This condition is attributed to occupation and income of mothers. These findings clamor for women empowerment through skill acquisition and training, especially for those in the rural areas so as to increase their income level and aid them in providing sufficient nourishing food for their ward.

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