DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15374867
title: Risk Factors Predisposing Children to Malnutrition in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

description: In Nigeria, malnutrition is widespread, particularly in the rural areas. This is partly due to inadequate food and low standard of living. Hence this study was aimed at ascertaining risk factors predisposing children to malnutrition in Okigwe Local Government of Imo State. Specifically, the study sought to examine the impact of poverty on the abilities of families to afford a balanced diet for their children, identify specific food preference among children and how they contribute to malnutrition, identify cultural practices and beliefs that affect child feeding and nutrition and examine how educational levels of parents correlate with their ability to make informed nutritional decision for their children. The study adopted a survey descriptive research design. A target population of 13, 325 women between the ages of 15-45 years (25% of estimated population) was used for the research. This study adopted Taro Yamen's formulae to determine the sample size from the population. Multi stage sampling technique was also used. Self-administered structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions was used for data collection for this study. Data collected wereanalyzed using frequencies and percentages.  Findings from the study revealed that poverty has a negative impact 365 (97.3%) on abilities of families to afford a balanced diet for their children which in turn, predisposes children to malnutrition. The study also revealed that Specific food preferences that can contribute to malnutrition among children include, preference for sugary food 300 (80%)  preference for high fat foods 285 (76%), preference for highly processed foods 305 (81.3%),  preference for sugary drinks 297 (79.2%),  preference for junk foods 325 (86.7%) and that preference for foods that are high in salt or fat 275 (73.3%) are the specific food preference that can contribute to malnutrition among children. Additionally, the study revealed that belief that children should be feed with certain types of food 325 (86.7%), forbidding children on eating during certain times of the day 297 (79.2%), belief that children should only eat certain amount of food 305 (81.3%), belief that children should not eat certain types of food like eggs 326 (86.9%) and belief of seeing certain food as unclean or impure 240 (64%) are some of the cultural practices and beliefs that can that affect child feeding and nutrition in Okigwe. Finally, the study revealed that there is a strong positive correlation 300 (80%) between educational level of parents and their ability to make informed nutritional decision. It is therefore recommended, that Governments in all parts of Nigeria especially in Okigwe L.G.A should prioritize reducing poverty and hunger, as this would have a significant impact on health and economic outcomes. It is also important to enlighten parents on those cultural belief and practices that are capable of exposing children to malnutrition so that they may put a stop to those practices especially in areas where children are affected by those cultural beliefs and practices