Double Burden of Malnutrition: Evidence from a Selected Nigerian Population

This study presents results from a study of mother-child pairs sampled from Akwa Ibom State in the southern region of Nigeria

Abstract

Indices reflecting the double burden of malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa are increasing. Evidence to support this claim in households of Africa’s most populous country—Nigeria—is scant. This study, therefore, presents results from a study of mother-child pairs sampled from Akwa Ibom State in the southern region of Nigeria. Anthropometric measures for 660 mother-child pairs were collected according to standard procedures. Indices were expressed as the standard deviation of units from the median for the reference group. Chi-square analysis was used to test significant differences in proportion, and was taken as significant. A total of 37.4% of the children were stunted out of which 19.8% were moderately stunted, and 17.6% were severely stunted. Prevalence of wasting was 13.1%, 6.2% were moderately wasted, and 6.9% were severely wasted. Mean maternal body mass index was (23.54 ± 4.60) kgm2. 9.0% were underweight mothers, 23.2% were overweight, and 9.3% were obese. The co-existence of undernutrition among children and overnutrition in women of child-bearing age is prevalent in this population. We recommend that more effort be placed on active nutrition surveillance to ascertain malnutrition prevalence and periodically reassess priority challenges.

This article is an output of the HarvestPlus programme

Citation

Alamu, Emmanuel O; Eyinla, Toluwalope E; Sanusi, Rasaki A; Maziya-Dixon, Busie. 2020. Double Burden of Malnutrition: Evidence from a Selected Nigerian Population. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2020:Article ID 5674279.

Double Burden of Malnutrition: Evidence from a Selected Nigerian Population

Published 1 September 2020