ABSTRACT

Malnutrition is the intake of an insufficient, surplus or disproportionate amount of energy and/or nutrients. Malnutrition is a significant global public health burden with greater concern among children under five years. This study assessed determinants of acute malnutrition among under-five children in Umuahia North, Abia State. The study was guided by four research questions, to access the background information and socioeconomic characteristics of the parents, identify the determinants of Malnutrition among under-five years children, access the feeding pattern/habit of the under- five years children and determine the Anthropometric characteristics of the under-five years children. A cross-sectional descriptive study was used for the study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 268 respondents. Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics of the under five children and parent were taken, feeding pattern/habit of the under- five years children and anthropometric characteristics of the under-five years. The IBM SPSS version 23.0 computer programme was used to analyse the data. Data obtained were described using frequency, percentage and mean. Result from the study showed that (52.6%) of the under 5 children found in the study area were female, with 1-2 siblings, (65.3%) of their mothers were between 20 to 29 years old, (57.1%) had tertiary education, (29.1%), (27.2%) and (25.7%) occupation were traders, civil servants and housewife respectively, (45.1%) of the mothers earned less than 30,000 naira per month. Background information and socioeconomic characteristics of parent (father), more than half (56.3%) are within the age range of 41 to 50 years, (98.9%) married and (63.4%) acquired tertiary education, (42.2%) of them were self-employed and (36.6%) earned 31,000 to 50,000 naira per month which is within the range of minimum wage. Determinants of Malnutrition in children, (72.8%) were 3 to 6 persons in the household, few (34.7%) had borehole as their source of water and used water system (89.9%), (60.8%) allowed their child to feed themselves, (63.4%) had healthy facility around their household, (38.1%) lived in a two-bedroom flat. Feeding pattern of the children, (91.0%) of the respondents said their child ate breakfast every day, (63.1%) ate three time a day, (75.0%) does not skipped meals. Clinical manifestation of acute malnutrition (77.2%) had no oedema, (69.8%) had experienced anorexia while (30.2%) had not, (67.9%) were free from apathy and (71.6%) had no lethargy. Anthropometric characteristics of the children, (81.4%) were normal and not underweight, (74.6%) were normal on stunting, (85.8%) of the children were normal on wasting, body mass index for age showed that (85.8%) were normal and (85.1%) were normal on MUAC. Notably higher percentages of malnourished children were from households with five or more family members. We found that birth interval, mother’s age and household income were independently associated with childhood malnutrition. Hence, education and awareness to the mothers could play a vital role in improving child nutrition status