NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN CASSAVA PRODUCING AREAS OF NIGERIA AS ASSESSED BY NUTRITIONAL ANTHROPOMETRY AND FOOD INTAKE

Abstract

In order to assess the nutritional status of preschoolers in cassava-growing areas of Nigeria, anthropometric measurements of 437 preschoolers aged 0-5 years were taken in 378 randomly selected farm-households in 63 villages from cassava-producing areas of Nigeria. Growth deviation from NCHS median, percentage prevalence and severities of undernutrition were calculated based on the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference. Also calculated were mean daily food nutrient intakes and adequacy ratios, using food composition table. Calculations were made for overall sample of the preschoolers and by age groups and gender. Association between anthropometric indicators and household characteristics, health and socio-economic factors, household cash income, expenditure, and consumption on all food, cassava and on other staples respectively were assessed. Significance of difference was determined by Chi-Square or General Linear Model. On the overall basis, calcium, vitamins A and C intakes were higher than FAO/WHO/UN (1995) requirements. Other nutrients intakes of the preschoolers were lower than their body needs. The growth deviations of the preschoolers in the overall sample by the three indicator(below median - 2SD weight for age, height for age, and weight for height) were above median - 2SD. The differences in the growth deviations were significant and highest in the age group 48-60 months. Energy and protein adequacy ratio for the youngest age group (0 - <12 months) and protein for 12 - <24 and 24 - <48 months old exceeded that of requirements. The same is true of iron, vitamins A and C in all the age groups except of vitamin C in the 48 - <60 months age group. Female preschoolers deviated less from the NCHS reference population than male. The nutrient adequacy ratios of both the males and females were lower than the requirements except for iron and vitamins A and C. The growth deviations were significantly less among preschoolers in large than in small households, and in those whose mothers' had some formal education. It was less among preschoolers in households with access to potable water supply in those that had not suffered from diarrhoea, and among those from high sales income households. The deviations were less among preschoolers from high than among those from low cassava food expenditure households except in the case of weight for height indicator. The deviations were significantly less among children from high than among others from low total food expenditure households for all three indicators (p<0.05). Three conclusions emerge from this study: first, the nutritional status of the preschoolers is above median - 2SD NCHS reference population: however, there are significant differences between sexes and among age groups and association with some household characteristics, health and socio-economic factors. Secondly, total expenditure on all food rather than expenditure on individual food items determined the nutritional status of preschoolers. Thirdly, children from high cassava food expenditure households had better nutritional status because such households had higher sales incomes and hence spent more on food than low cassava food expenditure households.