Maternal overweight/obesity characteristics and child anthropometric status in Jos, Nigeria

This study is to determine the pattern of overweight and obesity and its relationship with childhood anthropometric status in Nigeria.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jos, Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used in data collection. Maternal and child anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard WHO methods. Child anthropometric Z scores were obtained from WHO Anthroplus while BMI of mothers were also determined. Totally, 262 mother-child pairs were recruited.

Mean maternal age and mean child age were 30.8 ± 6.3 yrs (15-47 yrs) and 22.3 ± 18.7 months (3-72 months). Prevalence of maternal underweight, overweight and obesity was 4.2% (11/262), 29.4% (77/262) and 25.9% (68/262), respectively. Child overweight/obesity was 5.4% (14/262), severe under-nutrition 5.7% (15/262). Mean maternal BMI was higher in the older, more educated and higher socioeconomic status (SES). Child mean birth-weight, weight-for-age Z-score and BMI-for-age Z-score (BAZ) were higher among mothers with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). All large-for-age babies were in mothers with maternal BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). Childhood over-nutrition was more common in maternal BMI of ≥25 kg/m(2). Overall, BAZ was directly related with maternal BMI, maternal age and birth-weight, although it was inversely related with maternal BM I ≥ 25 kg/m(2).

Higher BMI is seen in educated and higher SES mothers and this impact on childhood anthropometry.