Full Project – STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING MALNUTRITION ON CHILDREN’S ZERO TO FIVE YEARS

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ABSTRACT

The study examines the causes of malnutrition in children from zero to five years. This study was undertaken majorly to examine the causes of malnutrition in children from zero to five years. Specific objectives of the study are: To examine the prevalence of malnutrition in children from zero to five years, To identify the strategies for reducing malnutrition in children from zero to five years.

Concerning methodology for this study, questionnaire method was used as instrument for collecting data in this study.

The target population for this study consists of mothers of newly born babies from zero to five years.Random sampling technique was used in this study. The sample size determined for this study was one hundred (100) Geography students selected from five health centers in Lagos Nigeria. Sixty (20) women were selected from each health centre.The researcher adopted a test retest method to ensure the reliability of the research instrument. The statistical analysis adopted was correlation. All computations requiring the use of data analysis technique were accessed by a computer statistical software package called SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences).

Findings from the study review that nutritional value of children in Nigeria is low and this especially effects children aged zero to five years. Some of the respondents stated that there are no adequate strategies for reducing malnutrition in Nigeria. The overall aim of this project is to examine the causes of malnutrition in children from zero to five years, the prevalence of malnutrition in children from zero to five years, to identify the strategies for reducing malnutrition in children from zero to five years. The outcome of this study will educate on the causes, prevalence and strategies for reducing malnutrition in children from zero to five years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Abstract

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

1.2       Statement of General Problem

1.3       Objective of the Study

1.4       Research Questions

1.5    Hypothesis

1.6       Significance of the Study

1.7       Scope of the Study

1.8       Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1       Introduction

2.2       Theoretical Framework

2.3. Measurement of malnutrition

2.4. Conceptual framework

2.5. Causes of malnutrition

CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Introduction

3.2       Research Design

3.3       Population of the study

3.4       Sample size and sampling technique

3.5       Method of Data Collection

3.6       Research instrument

3.7       Validity of the Instrument

3.8       Reliability of the Instrument

3.9   Statistical Methods

CHAPTER FOUR – DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0       Introduction

4.1       Data Presentation and Analysis

4.2       Characteristics of the Respondents

4.3       Data Analysis

4.4       Testing Hypothesis

4.5       Summary of Findings

4.6       Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.0       Introduction

5.1       Summary

5.2       Conclusion

5.3       Recommendations

            References

Appendix 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Malnutrition in children also known as malnutritionis common globally and results in both short and long term irreversible negative health outcomes including stunted growth which may also be linked to cognitive development deficits, underweight and wasting. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malnutrition accounts for 54 percent of child mortality worldwide, about 1 million children. Another estimate also by WHO states that childhood underweight is the cause for about 35% of all deaths of children under the age of five years worldwide. The main causes are unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene, factors related to society and poverty, diseases, maternal factors, gender issues and overall poverty (Bhutta et al, 2008).

There are three commonly used measures for detecting malnutrition in children. They includes stunting (extremely low height for age),underweight (extremely low weight for age), andwasting (extremely low weight for height). These measures of malnutrition are interrelated, but studies for the World Bank found that only 9 percent of children exhibit stunting, underweight, and wasting. Children with severe acute malnutrition are very thin, but they often also have swollen hands and feet, making the internal problems more evident to health workers. Children with severe malnutrition are very susceptible to infections (World Bank, 2008).

Malnutrition in children causes direct structural damage to the brain and impairs infant motor development and exploratory behavior. Children who are undernourished before age two and gain weight quickly later in childhood and in adolescence are at high risk of chronic diseases related to nutrition. Studies have found a strong association between malnutrition and child mortality (Duggan et al, 2008). Once malnutrition is treated, adequate growth is an indication of health and recovery. Even after recovering from severe malnutrition, children often remain stunted for the rest of their lives. Even mild degrees of malnutrition double the risk of mortality for respiratory and diarrheal disease mortality and malaria. This risk is greatly increased in more severe cases of malnutrition. Undernourished girls tend to grow into short adults and are more likely to have small children.

Prenatal malnutrition and early life growth patterns can alter metabolism and physiological patterns and have lifelong effects on the risk of cardiovascular disease. Children who are undernourished are more likely to be short in adulthood, have lower educational achievement and economic status, and give birth to smaller infants (Bhutta et al, 2008). Children often face malnutrition during the age of rapid development, which can have long-lasting impacts on health.

The World Health Organisation estimated in 2008 that globally, half of all cases of malnutrition in children under five were caused by inadequate food intake, unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene. This link is often due to repeated diarrhoea and intestinal worm infections as a result of inadequate sanitation. However, the relative contribution of diarrhea to malnutrition and in turn stunting remains controversial. In almost all countries, the poorest quintile of children has the highest rate of malnutrition. However, inequalities in malnutrition between children of poor and rich families vary from country to country, with studies finding large gaps in Peru and very small gaps in Egypt. In 2000, rates of child malnutrition were much higher in low income countries (36 percent) compared to middle income countries (12 percent) and the United States (1 percent). Studies in Bangladesh in 2009 found that the mother’s literacy, low household income, higher number of siblings, less access to mass media, less supplementation of diets, unhygienic water and sanitation are associated with chronic and severe malnutrition in children.

Diarrhea and other infections can cause malnutrition through decreased nutrient absorption, decreased intake of food, increased metabolic requirements, and direct nutrient loss. Parasite infections, in particular intestinal worm infections (helminthiasis), can also lead to malnutrition. A leading cause of diarrhea and intestinal worm infections in children in developing countries is lack of sanitation and hygiene.Children with chronic diseases like HIV have a higher risk of malnutrition, since their bodies cannot absorb nutrients as well. Diseases such as measles are a major cause of malnutrition in children; thus immunizations present a way to relieve the burden. The nutrition of children 5 years and younger depends strongly on the nutrition level of their mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Infants born to young mothers who are not fully developed are found to have low birth weights. The level of maternal nutrition during pregnancy can affect newborn body size and composition. Iodine-deficiency in mothers usually causes brain damage in their offspring, and some cases cause extreme physical and mental retardation. This affects the children’s ability to achieve their full potential (Wagstaff & Naoke, 1999). In 2011 UNICEF reported that thirty percent of households in the developing world were not consuming iodized salt, which accounted for 41 million infants and newborns in whom iodine deficiency could still be prevented. Maternal body size is strongly associated with the size of newborn children. Short stature of the mother and poor maternal nutrition stores increase the risk of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).However, measurements of a child’s growth provide the key information for the presence of malnutrition, but weight and height measurements alone can lead to failure to recognize kwashiorkor and an underestimation of the severity of malnutrition in children

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Measures have been taken to reduce child malnutrition. Studies for the World Bank found that, from 1970 to 2000, the number of malnourished children decreased by 20 percent in developing countries. Iodine supplement trials in pregnant women have been shown to reduce offspring deaths during infancy and early childhood by 29 percent. However, universal salt iodization has largely replaced this intervention.Nutritional education and micronutrient-fortified food supplementshasresulted in 10 percent reduction and the prevalence of stunting in children 12–36 months old. Milk fortified with zinc and iron reduced the incidence of diarrhea by 18 percent in children.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1.  To examine the causes of malnutrition in children from zero to five years.
2.  To examine the prevalence of malnutrition in children from zero to five years.

To identify the strategies for reducing malnutrition in children from zero to five years.

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