The Influence of Child Feeding on the Occurrence of Under-nutrition among Children Between 0 and 2 Years in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of child feeding on the occurrence of under-nutrition among children between 0 and 2 years in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Descriptive research design was adopted.  One hundred and eighty five children ≤2 years constituted the samples for this study. These were selected through purposive sampling technique from two Government hospitals in Ado-Ekiti. Self-developed questionnaire was used for collecting data, and analysis was carried out using frequency counts, percentages, and multiple linear regressions. All inferences were made at P< 0.05. The most commonly consumed foods among children include: breast milk (Mean=3.91), infant formula (Mean=1.84), and ready-made instant cereal (Mean=1.83). The least commonly consumed food was solid foods (Mean=1.68). It was revealed that complementary foods were introduced into the diet of majority of the children after 6 months. Majority of the children, 66.5%, 78.4% and 51.9% had normal weight- for- height/length, normal weight- for -age and normal height- for- age respectively.  Period of initiation of solid foods (beta=-.367, t = -3.273, P < 0.05) and period of initiation of cereals (beta=.309, t=2.637, P < 0.05) all had significant influence on weight- for- height/length of children. Period of initiation of solid foods (beta=-.371, t= 3.27, P<0.05) and period of initiation of cereals (beta=-.332, t =-2.793, P<0.05) also had significant influence on height/length- for- age of children. Nutrition education for better children feeding is required among nursing mothers.