Comparative Analysis of the Nutritional Status of Under-five Children and their Mothers in Rural and Urban Areas of Anambra State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Aim: Malnutrition in the form of under-nutrition is still a major public health problem in developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. This study compares the nutritional status of under-five children and their mothers in rural and urban areas of Anambra State Nigeria. Methodology: This was a comparative cross-sectional study carried out in one urban and two rural local government areas of Anambra State, Nigeria namely Awka South, Dunukofia and Anaocha respectively. A total of 657 mother-child pairs were selected from eligible households using the multistage sampling technique. Data on household food security was obtained from the mothers using semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires while anthropometric measurements were carried out on the children and their mothers using weighing scales and height boards. Results: The overall prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among the under-five children in this study were 15.1%, 18.1% and 10.4% respectively, and the proportions were higher in the rural area than in the urban. The prevalence of stunting (height < 152 cm) in the mothers was 7.9% in the rural area compared to 9.1% in the urban area. Majority of the women were overweight (BMI ≥ 25.0), more in the urban (69.3%) than in the rural (59.2%). Conclusion: This study confirmed that under-five under-nutrition remains a serious public health problem in Anambra State, Nigeria. In order to reduce child morbidity and mortality to which malnutrition contributes significantly, concerted effort must be made by the government to improve child and maternal nutritional status by directing attention to improving household food security through developing and implementing policies that improve the livelihoods of the population.