Perceived Socio-cultural Factors Influencing Nutritional Status Of Children Below 5 Years In Selected Rural Communities
Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the socio-artistic factors impacting nutritive status of children below 5 times in named pastoral communities in Enugu State. The objects of the study were to determine the influence of family structure, socio- profitable status of the family, motherly education on the nutritive status of children and to identify the religious and artistic practices that impact the nutritive status of children. Across-sectional descriptive check design was used for the study in Enugu EastL.G.A., Enugu State. A simple arbitrary slice fashion was used to elect 5 communities from theL.G.A. for the study and snow- ballnon-probability slice ways was used to elect the subjects for the study. The target population was unknown; a sample size of 384 was determined using Golden formula for horizonless population. Self developed questionnaire with 4 point modified Likert scale was used. Anthropometric measures of the children under 5 were measured using importing scale and height dimension. Cronbatch nascence statistic was used to establish the internal thickness which gave a trustability measure of0.80. Descriptive and deducible statistics were used to dissect data. Results were presented in tables as probabilities, means and standard diversions. One sample t- test was used to test suppositions at P<0.05 position of significance. Findings revealed that family structure with a grand mean score of3.29, socio- profitable status of the family with a grand mean score of2.91 and some religious and artistic practices with a grand mean score of2.77 which was above the criterion mean of2.5 all had a negative influence on the nutritive status of children. motherly education was revealed to influence the nutritive status as33.3 of children glutted were from maters with no formal education,48.7 from maters with primary education,15.9 had secondary and tertiary education, independently. There were significant differences( P<0.05) in relationship between family structure influence, socio- profitable status influence, religious and artistic practice influence, motherly education influence and the nutritive status of children. In conclusion, all the variables, family structure, socio- profitable status, certain religious and artistic practices were all perceived to have a negative influence on the nutritive status of children. motherly education also has a strong influence on the nutritive status of children as educated maters had less number of children glutted. Recommendation is that health care labor force should educate maters on factors that lead to poor nutritive status, women commission through education should be encouraged as it promises bettered family finances, better food security and better nonage nutrition.
Chapter One
Preface
Background to the study
Child nutrition plays a crucial part in child and child health or death. youthful children, pregnant women and lactating maters are nutritionally the most vulnerable group, especially in the developing countries of the world, and yet fairly little is done to achieve their special nutritive requirements.( Oyira, Abua, Mgbekem & Okon, 2010).
The significance of nutrition in nonage for both immediate health and health in after life is a content that has aroused a considerable interest and argument over the once 15 – 20 times. The depth of interest and the data t chapeau arouse the interest are new but the conception that the way a child is fed has a long- term effect or consequences aren’t new. In advanced countries and numerous traditional societies moment, early feeding has been considered a determinant of after character as much as after growth and health. Correct nutrition ensures healthier children, who grow into further productive grown-ups while Poor nutrition on the other hand leads to malnutrition.
Malnutrition continues to be a significant public health and development concern around the world with about one- third of the world’s children glutted and an estimated 150 to 200 millionpre-school children(< 5- times) in developing countries being light and suppressed, independently( WHO, 2006).
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking shy diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in redundant, or in the wrong proportions( Sullivan & Sheffrin, 2010).