Prevalence of malnutrition using Z-scores and absolute values in children under five years of age in Utan village, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the use of Z scores and absolute measurements in determining the prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in the Plateau State, Nigeria.


METHODS
A community based, cross sectional study of under-five children.


METHODS
An urban slum, Utan village, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.


METHODS
The village has a projected population of 3,000 people; 15% of whom are under-fives.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty six under-five children.


METHODS
Absolute measures of weight for age, weight for height and height for age; and Z scores for the same indicators.


METHODS
Mass chemotherapy (antihelminths) and nutrition education were carried out after the study was done in 1993.


RESULTS
Based on absolute measurements, 23.7% of the children had low weight for age; 34.9% of the under-fives were stunted (height for age), while 11.1% had low weight for height. Using Z-scores, 25.3% of the under-fives were malnourished based on weight for age, 37% were stunted (height for age), while 8.7% had low weight for height.


CONCLUSIONS
Stunting is still prevalent in the under-five children surveyed in spite of the siting of the PHC clinic which offers promotive, preventive and curative services. Small scale industry could be set up to empower the women economically so that they can provide enough food for their households. A credit/loan scheme would also be beneficial. Emphasis should be placed on growth monitoring to help the women discover when the weight of their children is faltering. The use of oral rehydration therapy against diarrhoeal diseases and immunisation against the common childhood diseases that also affect the nutritional status of the children is important. Nutrition education and family planning programmes should be effectively organised for mothers.
Zoakah
A I
AI
Department of Community Health, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Idoko
L O
LO
Okoronkwo
M O
MO
Adeleke
O A
OA
D000886:Anthropometry; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence