THE ECOLOGICAL FACTORS OF MALNUTRITION IN UMUNWADA VILLAGE, IMO STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined prospectively for over a period of one year (1984-1985) the ecological factors which contribute to malnutrition through a case study of a village in Imo state of Nigeria. The ecological factors considered included the socio-economic status of the population, the seasonal effects on food production and consumption, food purchases, nutrient intake, morbidity and mortality among preschool children, and water supply system. The techniques used were a questionnaire comprising the socio-economic variables, a dietary assessment using both 24-hours dietary recall and weighing methods, anthropometric measurements of height, weight, arm circumference, skinfold and household farm product inventory. All data collected were analysed using statistical student “t” test, the correlation coefficient, and multiple regression techniques. A sub-sample of 12 households were also investigated in 1989. Evidences of malnutrition by anthropometric assessment were shown with 44.7% of children 6-60 months old wasted and 46% stunted. The females exhibited less wasting than the males. The older children of 5-10 year old were less wasted than the adolescents, while the females adults exhibited more wasting, (though in mild form) than the males adults. 83% of ≤10 years old, exhibited wasting in 1989 than their counterpart (64%) in 1984 based on a supplementary study in 1989. Convulsions (though a symptom of disease) assumed the highest prevalence (36%) followed by fevers (30%), respiratory tract infections (20%) and least by diarrhoea and vomiting (7.8% and 6.2% respectively). The preschool children recorded the highest death rate (222 per 1000), but death rate was relatively lower than that reported in similar communities. Harvest season recorded 60% while hungry season recorded 40% of total disease occurrences. Ascariasis (39.6%) and ankylotosomiasis (20.7%) assumed the highest prevalence. The socio-economic status of 78% households studied was generally low, being a peasant farming community. Similarly, the impacts of seasonal changes were not significant enough to effect drastic changes on production and consumption as well as on growth pattern, nor did the seasonal changes were not significant enough to effect drastic changes on production and consumption as well as on growth pattern, nor did the seasonal changes exert drastic impacts on the other related environmental factors. The common foods crops were starchy roots (cassava, yam and coco yam), palm products, and green vegetables and fruits. Starchy roots formed 66.9% production during harvest season, and 52% production during hungry season; while livestock was the least produced (5.4% in harvest and 9.1% in hungry seasons). The caloric and protein intakes were low, ranging from 62.1% to 80.0% of reference caloric intake, with 50.1% to 11.2% of reference protein intake using 24 hours recall (assessment); and also 31.0% to 98.6% of reference caloric intake with 20% to 87.4% of reference protein intake (using dietary weighing assessment). The nutritional status of children ≤10 years old were related to the identified ecological factors using both multiple regression and correlation coefficient (r) analysis. With multiple regression, a significant association (p< 0.05) was found between the anthropometry of children ≤ 10 years and their nutrients intakes. And with correlation coefficient test, the influence of the socio-economic status (family income, family size and occupation), on the anthropometry was equally significant at p <0.05. the association between crop production and the nutritional status was significant at p< 0.05, while the association between food crop consumption and food purchases were strong but not significant at p<0.05 level.