Abstract
Malnutrition in children is common globally and results in both long-term and short-term irreversible negative outcomes including stunted growth, development defect, underweight and wasting. This study investigated strategies of reducing malnutrition by caregivers amongst children 0-5 years in Opiro community. The objectives of this study are: to assess the management of malnutrition among children 0-5years, to identify the measures taken to reduce malnutrition among children, 0-5 years by caregivers and 'to identify the factors influencing the prevalence of malnutrition among children 0-5years in Opiro Community. Related literature was reviewed. Abraham Maslow hierarchy of human needs was adopted in this study. A cross-sectional descriptive design was used for this study. Ninety-two (92) was determined as the sample size using the Taro Yamen formula from a target population of 114. A purposive sampling technique was used. A self-developed questionnaire consisting of two sections was used. Section A consists of personal data of the respondents, section B consists of 11 items on variables of the study. Face and content validity of the instrument was done by the research supervisor. A test-retest method was used to measure the reliability. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was adopted to analyse the result which yielded was 0.85. The data were analysed using frequency, percentages, mean and presented on tables. Findings revealed that the majority of the respondents adopt adequate breastfeeding and balanced diet in the management of malnutrition, early diagnosis of any lag in growth and adequate environmental and personal hygiene are measures taken to reduce malnutrition and also poverty is one of the leading factors influencing the prevalence of malnutrition. The following recommendations were made; caregivers should be properly health educated on the importance of adequate breastfeeding, nurses and other health workers should educate caregivers on the causes and prevention of malnutrition etc.
Highlights
Malnutrition in children is common globally and results in both short and long term irreversible negative health outcomes, including stunted growth, development defects, underweight and wasting (Bhutta et al, 2012)
According to Hopkins (2017), malnutrition sets in when the body lacks vital nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and other nutrients that are needed for the maintenance of health tissues and organ
Malnutrition is estimated to be responsible for 54 percent of child mortality worldwide, or nearly one million children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2012)
Summary
Malnutrition in children is common globally and results in both short and long term irreversible negative health outcomes, including stunted growth, development defects, underweight and wasting (Bhutta et al, 2012). Malnutrition is estimated to be responsible for 54 percent of child mortality worldwide, or nearly one million children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2012). According to another WHO estimate, childhood underweight is the cause of roughly 35% of all fatalities in children under the age of five years in the world. Malnutrition in children can be detected using three different signs/measures They are: Stunting (very low height for age), underweight (extremely low weight for age), wasting (extremely low weight for height) etc. These nutritional indicators are linked, research for the World Bank concluded that only 9 of them are. Children who are severely malnourished are vulnerable to infectious diseases (World Bank 2008)
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