FEEDING PRACTICES AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN A PERI-URBAN SETTING IN IBADAN, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA:...

Area of Science:

• Child Nutrition
• Public Health
• Urbanization Studies

Background:

• Existing literature indicates disparities in child feeding practices between rural and urban communities.
• Increasing urbanization necessitates a re-evaluation of rural-urban differences in feeding practices for children under five.
• This study focuses on a peri-urban setting in Ibadan to assess these differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare feeding practices of children under five in peri-urban Ibadan.
• To evaluate the nutritional status of children in rural versus urban settings within the peri-urban area.
• To identify potential disparities in child nutrition influenced by setting.

Main Methods:

• A community-based, cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in Lagelu LGA, Ibadan.
• Multistage sampling identified 617 caregivers of children under five from rural and urban wards.
• Data collected included caregiver demographics, 24-hour dietary recall, and anthropometric measurements.

Main Results:

• While most children (99.0%) were breastfed, rural children had longer breastfeeding duration but lower exclusive breastfeeding rates compared to urban counterparts.
• Dietary diversity was similar across settings but higher in males.
• Higher rates of cachexia, underweight, stunting, and overweight were observed in rural children aged 6-59 months.

Conclusions:

• Feeding and nutrition programs require a gender-sensitive approach for equitable outcomes.
• Interventions should address the specific nutritional challenges observed in rural peri-urban settings.
• Addressing disparities in exclusive breastfeeding and nutritional status is crucial for child health.