Influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Fertility pattern and reproductive behaviours affect infant death in Nigeria. Household food insecurity and poor care practices also place children at risk of morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 423 mothers of under-five children and their children in the households selected through multistage sampling methods. Food-insecure households were five times more likely than secure households to have wasted children (crude OR=5.707, 95 percent CI=1.31-24.85). Children with less educated mothers were significantly more likely to be stunted. The prevalence of food insecurity among households in Ile-Ife was high. Households with food insecurity and less educated mothers were more likely to have malnourished children (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 123-132)

Utilization of Primary Health Care Facilities: Lessons from a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria

Background: This study assessed service/organisational factors and clients' perceptions that influenced utilisation of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in a rural community in Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional household survey in the community as well as key-informant interviews of opinion leaders and health care providers and participant observations of health facilities and utilisation pattern was used to collect data. Results: Forty-four percent of respondents to the survey who were ill in the preceding six months visited a PHC facility for treatment; while others relied on self-medication/self-treatment. Education was positively associated with utilisation of PHC services (P0.05). Maternal and child health (45.4); prompt attention (23.0); and appropriate outpatient (20.5) services attracted respondents to use PHC services. Poor education about when to seek care; poverty; perceived high cost of PHC services; lack of drugs and basic laboratory services; and a regular physician on site at the facility were identified as barriers to utilisation. Conclusion: We conclude that community perceptions of poor quality and inadequacy of available services was responsible for low use of PHC services