FACTORS AFFECTING THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN IN RURAL HOUSEHOLD OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the factors affecting the nutritional status of children in rural households of Ondo State. The specific objectives were to ascertain the socio economic characteristics of the respondents household, determine the food consumption pattern and frequency of the respondents, determine the anthropometric indices of children aged 0-5 years in the study area and determine the extent of affordability of nutritious food sources in the study area. Primary data was used for the study. Primary data was collected from the selected women through the use of interview schedule consisting of validated and reliable open and close ended questions on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, accessibility, affordability and awareness of nutritious food in the study area. While secondary information was sourced from relevant reports, internet, published research papers and journals and other relevant sources. Results revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 34 years, this implies that middle aged women were the ones with children under six years in the study area. Majority of the children were females. Majority of the mothers were married (57.5%) and with moderate family size. The result also shows that most of the respondents completed primary school. The mean height of the children aged 0-6 years in the study area was 84cm and the mean weight was 8kg, while the mean age of the children was 30 months. It was revealed in the result that majority of the respondents do not drink pipe borne water