ABSTRACT

The study design was a cross sectional survey aimed at determining the health profile,

household feeding pattern and anthropometric status of preschool children (2-5 years) in

lkwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. A multistage sampling technique were used

to select 228 preschool children for the survey of which males were 117 and females 111. A

semi-structured questionnaire were used to obtain information on the socio-demographic and

economic characteristics of parents, the physical health profile, household feeding pattern

and food consumption pattern of the studied children. Dietary assessment were carried out

using food frequency questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Pearson's

correlation was used to establish the association between health status and anthropometric

status. Significance was accepted at P-value <0.05. Anthropometric measurements (weights

and heights) were used to obtain the height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height

which were calculated using WHO Anthro. The results reveals that 2.2% of the children were

wasted, 16.7% stunted and 3.5% were underweight. All the children ( 100%) consumed

Cereals, Sweet and Sugary products, vegetables, fish and sea-foods, fats and oil, condiments

and beverages respectively in the last 24 hours before the study. Majority (90.8%) ate Roots

and tubers, more than half (65.4%) of the children ate legumes and nuts, 74. l % consumed

Fruits. Majority (8 1.1%) consumed eggs while 77.6% took Milk and products. But Meat and

Poultry 34.6% were less consumed food groups. The study showed that the children met their

minimum meal frequency (MMF) of three or four meal times per day with one or two snacks

as desired, and their minimum dietary diversity (MOD) of consumption of at least four food

groups among seven food groups per day. Factors which were significantly associated

(P<0.05) with health and anthropometric status of the preschool children studied showed that

weight-for-height (WHZ) z-scores correlates positively with incidence of malaria (r=.198,

p=0.003) and child's deworming frequency (r=.180, p=0.007), while diarrhea correlates

negatively with height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores (r=-.229, p=0.000). It is recommended that a

community based Nutrition education is needed for all mothers so as to keep them informed

on the importance of timely deworming of children and to teach them appropriate feeding

practices for children to ensure adequate nutrition for the children and other members of the

family.