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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