MATERNAL KNOWLEDGE OF INFANT FEEDING AND MALNUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER 5 YEARS CHILDREN IN UGBEKUN HEALTH CARE CENTRE EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

Malnutrition is a pathological state resulting from relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrients resulting in a measurable adverse effect on body consumption, function and clinical outcome. In Nigeria, malnutrition is a leading cause of death among children less than five of age. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, particularly in developing countries. This study is aimed at assessing maternal knowledge of infant feeding and malnutritional status of under 5 years children in Ugbekun Primary Health Centre, Edo State. A healthy-facility survey research design was used for this study with a total of 181 participants. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The result from the analysis of data collected showed that the mothers have fair level of knowledge of infant feeding and that malnutrition was recorded among 12(6.6%) who were underweight, and 9(5%) had stunted growth. The result also showed that the major factors that contribute to malnutrition among under-fives are occupation, income, family size, immunization status and disease conditions. The result also showed from the respondents that mothers did not initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery, of which this also might have contributed to the underweight and stunted growth observed from this study. In conclusion, it was seen that the level of malnutrition amongst under five children in Ugbekun Primary Health Centre was as a result of occupation status, family size, the child’s diseased condition and income status. The study therefore recommends that mothers should be educated on the need for monitoring the growth of their children and proper preparation of the meal of their under five children.

Keywords:Assessment, Diarrhea, Infant feeding, Knowledge, Malnutrition