title: Nutritional status and pattern of infant feeding practices among children under five in a rural community of northwestern Nigeria.
abstract: The study assessed the factors influencing nutritional status of children less than five years in Biye village in rural Nigeria. The study was a cross sectional descriptive study: 119 caregivers and mothers were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data using multi-stage sampling. Anthropometric measurements of children were also taken. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.0. Respondents age ranged from 11-50 years, mean age of 26 (± 11.7); 79.8% had Quranic education; and 50.4% were not gainfully employed. Two-thirds (68.9%) were polygamous, and 64.7% had 1-3 children. Less than 1% of children were exclusively breast fed. From anthropometric data obtained, 62.2% were stunted, 12.6% wasted, and 48.7% underweight. A statistically significant relationship exists between family size and children's nutritional status. The prevalence of malnutrition was high with poor child feeding practices. Thus, healthcare providers should carry out community-wide health education on the need to promote appropriate infant feeding practices and nutritional status.
authors.affiliation: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popoola-Zakariyya
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sambo
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sufyan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abubakar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult