- Aderemi, T.1, Aladeniyi, O. B2 Gayawan, E3
- MSI Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (MSIJMR)
Abstract: Malnutrition among children remains a critical public health issue in Africa, particularly contributing to high infant mortality in Nigeria.
This study aimed to analyze spatiotemporal variations in malnutrition among children under-five in Nigeria, utilizing data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) from 2008 to 2018.
A Bayesian space-time approach with the Gaussian intrinsic conditional autoregressive (iCAR) model, implemented through Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA), was employed to assess these variations.
The results indicated that stunting and underweight prevalence increased from 2008 to 2013 and decreased from 2013 to 2018, while wasting prevalence consistently rose from 2008 to 2018. Wasting also increased with age across different geopolitical zones. Undernutrition was more prevalent in male children, and significant regional disparities were observed. In 2018, the Southeast had the lowest stunting rate (19.0%), while the Northwest had the highest (57.6%). Wasting was most prevalent in the Northeast (9.6%) and least in the Southwest (4.3%). The Northwest also had the highest underweight prevalence (36.0%), with the Southeast reporting the lowest (10.9%). Key risk factors for undernutrition included gender, child’s age, mother’s age, mother’s body mass index, education, wealth index, and religion.
The study concluded that Nigeria is unlikely to achieve a 40% reduction in stunting by 2025 but may meet the 5% reduction target in wasting set by the World Health Organization. The findings underscore the need for effective interventions, including nutritional and supplementary food programs, to improve the health of malnourished children in Nigeria.
Keywords: Undernutrition, Stunting, Underweight, wasting, malnutrition.
