Malnutrition is one of the biggest
health problems that the world currently faces and is associated with more than
41% of the deaths that occur annually in children from 6 to 24 months of age in
developing countries which total approximately 2.3 million. World Health Organization
in 2001 reported that 54% of all childhood mortality was attributable, directly
or indirectly, to malnutrition sub-Saharan Africa has a high prevalence of the
different types of malnutrition, namely stunting, wasting and underweight
feeding practices during infancy are critical for the growth, development and
health of child during the first two years of life and of importance for the
early prevention of chronic degenerative disease. Progress in improving infant
and young child feeding practices in the developing world has been remarkably
slow due to several facture like poverty and poor hygienic conditions. The 2003
NDHS shows that 38 percent of Nigeria children under the age of five years are
stunted, 29 percent are underweight and 9.2 percent are waste. The Nigeria food
consumption and nutrition survey f 2001-2003 observed similar trends among this
age group with 42 percent stunted, 25 percent under weight, and 9 percent
wasted. It will be a greater help if a comprehensive study on the food consumption
is conducted which will help to identify current good practices to be supported
for improving the feeding practices of the children as effective strategies for
solving childhood malnutrition.
health problems that the world currently faces and is associated with more than
41% of the deaths that occur annually in children from 6 to 24 months of age in
developing countries which total approximately 2.3 million. World Health Organization
in 2001 reported that 54% of all childhood mortality was attributable, directly
or indirectly, to malnutrition sub-Saharan Africa has a high prevalence of the
different types of malnutrition, namely stunting, wasting and underweight
feeding practices during infancy are critical for the growth, development and
health of child during the first two years of life and of importance for the
early prevention of chronic degenerative disease. Progress in improving infant
and young child feeding practices in the developing world has been remarkably
slow due to several facture like poverty and poor hygienic conditions. The 2003
NDHS shows that 38 percent of Nigeria children under the age of five years are
stunted, 29 percent are underweight and 9.2 percent are waste. The Nigeria food
consumption and nutrition survey f 2001-2003 observed similar trends among this
age group with 42 percent stunted, 25 percent under weight, and 9 percent
wasted. It will be a greater help if a comprehensive study on the food consumption
is conducted which will help to identify current good practices to be supported
for improving the feeding practices of the children as effective strategies for
solving childhood malnutrition.
