Factors associated with under-nutrition among children of 0-5years in oboama enyiogugu of aboh mbaise local government area– Imo State, Nigeria

Under-nutrition among children constitutes a major public health concern mostly in developing countries like Nigeria. A Cross-Sectional survey was adopted for this study to determine factors associated with under-nutrition among children of 0-5years of age n Oboama Enyiogugu of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State. Two (2) research questions were raised and one research hypothesis formulated to guide the study. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select 294 children for the study. A questionnaire and observation (anthropometric measurements of heights-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using inferential and non-inferential statistical methods (Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22.0) and WHOAnthro software (version 3,2,2). The mean z-score for wasting -0.28±0.97, underweight was -0.57±0.82 and stunting was -0.75±1.18. Findings revealed that the prevalence of under-nutrition among children of 0-5years of age was moderate for wasting (7.8%), low for underweight (5.1%), low for stunting (7.1%) and very low for severe stunting (1.1%). Socio-economic factors had no influence on the prevalence of under-nutrition among children of 0-5years of age since (X2=10.21, P=0.053) at 0.05level of significant. However, socio-cultural factors such as "religion and marital status of mothers", environmental factors like "household size (X2=14.312, P=0.031) number of children under five (5) years of age living in a household (X2=14.312, P=0.031) and treatment of drinking water (X2=15.058, P=0.049)". Maternal Education(X2=11.867, P=0.043), had influence in Under-Nutrition among children of 0-5years of age in the study area. Findings revealed that the types of weaning foods (X2=11.98,P=0.048 and number of times the child was fed (X2 S=13.027, P0.023), all were found to influence under-nutrition among children of 0-5years of age in the study area. The result of the hypothesis testing revealed a positive and significant relationship between associated factors and under-nutrition as results obtained showed that chi-square calculated was greater than the chi-square tabulated value (X2cal=19.85> X2Crit =12.59, P<0.05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that health education should be reinforced at child welfare clinics, health facilities and at community level to improve parents’ knowledge on the importance of exclusive breast feeding, proper supplementary feeding and weaning practices, reduction in family size and food hygiene in Oboama Community.