ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Nutrition is vital for health and development, impacting well-being, disease prevention, and quality of life. Good nutrition involves a balanced intake of macro-nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) and micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals). Malnutrition, including under-nutrition and overnutrition, poses global health challenges, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Women are especially vulnerable during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with inadequate nutrition leading to anemia, low birth weight, and other health issues. Despite interventions, many Nigerian women face malnutrition due to food insecurity, gender inequality, and cultural norms. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving maternal and child health, especially in vulnerable populations.Research on maternal and child health in Nigeria often overlooks maternal nutrition, focusing mainly on children. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of mothers with underfive children attending a well-baby clinic in Benin City, examining dietary diversity, BMI, and common deficiencies. It will explore the link between maternal and child nutrition, offering insights for mothers on maintaining a proper postnatal diet for health and lactation. The findings could inform interventions and policies to improve maternal health. OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional status of mothers of under-five children attending wellbaby clinics in Benin city, Edo state. VI METHODOLOGY A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the well-baby clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Edo Specialist Hospital in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria among 516 mothers of under-five children attending the well-baby clinics from June 2023 to October 2024. A multistage sampling technique was used. Data was collected using a standardized and pretested questionnaire, scales, stadiometers and patient notes. SPSS software version 25 was used for analysis, including univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses.Significance level was set at <0.05. Potential recall bias and measurement errors was minimized using timelines and averaging measurements. RESULT The study found that most of the mothers were either normal weight(47.3%) or overweight(45.3%), and more than half (54.7%) had a high minimum dietary diversity. Socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), family type (p = 0.003), household size (p = 0.001), education (p < 0.001) were identified as key determinants of maternal nutrition. Also, a statistically significant (p < 0.001) relationship was observed between maternal and child nutrition. The study highlights the importance of targeted interventions to improve maternal diets, as maternal nutrition directly influences child health outcomes. These findings provide critical insights for healthcare providers and policy makers to design better nutrition and health programs aimed at mothers of young children in low-resource settings like Nigeria. CONCLUSION This study highlights the nutritional status of mothers of under-five children attending well-baby clinics in Benin City, as well as the significant factors influencing their nutritional status. Here, it VII was discovered that most of the women have a high Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). Notably, while a majority of the women have normal weight, a significant proportion was found to be overweight. The factors influencing the nutritional status of the mothers were socioeconomic status, family type, household size and educational status. Family heads should allocate household resources effectively to support maternal nutrition, as this benefits overall family health. Mothers should include foods from various food groups in their diets to achieve high Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD). KEYWORDS: Maternal nutrition, Child nutrition, Nutritional status, Malnutrition, Benin city
