ASSESSMENT OF DIETARY INTAKE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN (0-23MONTHS) ACCESSING CARE IN COMMUNITY INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING (C-IYCF) PROGRAMME IN ZARIA LGA.
ASSESSMENT OF DIETARY INTAKE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN (0-23MONTHS) ACCESSING CARE IN COMMUNITY INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING (C-IYCF) PROGRAMME IN ZARIA LGA.
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Date
2021
Authors
ABDULLAHI, Haruna
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Abstract
Infant and young child feeding practices have substantial consequences for the growth, development, and survival of infants and children during the first two years of life and throughout life. The study aimed to assess the dietary intake and nutritional status of children (0 -23 months) enrolled in community infant and young child feeding programme (C-IYCF) in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A cross sectional study was conducted among 159 randomly selected mother-child pair attending the (C-IYCF) programme. A validated semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio demographic and dietary intake information from the respondents. Anthropometric indices of weight for age, length for age and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements were used to assess the nutritional status of
children. Biochemical parameters such as haemoglobin was measured using haemoglobin meter, zinc and iron were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Almost half (44.7%) of the caregivers had household size of 6–10 people, while (23.9%), (19.5%), (6.9%) and (5%) responded to between 1–5, 11–15, 16–20 and above 20 people in a household respectively. About 47.8% do not have any form of education. The major occupation of the caregivers is farming in 48.4% and trading in 44.0%. Dietary intake consists mainly of legumes in 62.7% and cereals in
60.8%. On the average, over 74.8% of the caregivers were still breastfeeding during the period of the study, 22% of them initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth and only 8.2% exclusively breastfed their children; majority, 91.7% of the caregivers breastfed on demand while 66.7% breastfed day and night. The study revealed that, 98.8% of the children sampled were malnourished while 15.1% of the children were
wasted, 91.1% were stunted and 68.6% were underweight. Only 24.5% of them met minimum meal frequencies, 10.1% diversified their diet, while 47.5% met minimum acceptable diet. Majority, 68.0% of the children had low haemoglobin level and 80.0% were iron deficient. More so, 68.0% of the children were deficient of zinc. Almost two third of the indices measured for the quality of C-IYCF programme was rated very good in Wucicciri , rated poor in Rafin Magaji and also poor in Babban Dodo primary health care. This study revealed inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices in the LGA despite being enrolled in the C-IYCF programme. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to the specific behaviours surrounding feeding practices and other constraints to children in Zaria LGA of Kaduna State.
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SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN NUTRITION (MSc.) DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY,
FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA