Effect of Malnutrition Among Children
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To examine the causes of poor nutrition in Oredo local government area of Edo State.
- To examine the effect of poor nutrition on children who are malnourished.
- To examine the relationship between anti-natal and post natal nutrition.
- To examine the academic performance of children suffering from poor nutrition.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
MALNUTRITION
The term malnutrition generally refers both to undernutrition and overnutrition, but in this guide we use the term to refer solely to a deficiency of nutrition. Many factors can cause malnutrition, most of which relate to poor diet or severe and repeated infections, particularly in underprivileged populations. Inadequate diet and disease, in turn, are closely linked to the general standard of living, the environmental conditions, and whether a population is able to meet its basic needs such as food, housing and health care. Malnutrition is thus a health outcome as well as a risk factor for disease and exacerbated malnutrition and it can increase the risk both of morbidity and mortality. Although it is rarely the direct cause of death (except in extreme situations, such as famine), child malnutrition was associated with 54% of child deaths (10.8 million children) in developing countries in 2001 WHO, 2004). Malnutrition that is the direct cause of death is referred to as “protein-energy malnutrition” in this guide. Nutritional status is clearly compromised by diseases with an environmental component, such as those carried by insect or protozoan vectors, or those caused by an environment deficient in micronutrients. But the effects of adverse environmental conditions on nutritional status are even more pervasive. Environmental contamination (e.g. destruction of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, climate change, and the effects of globalization) has contributed to an increasing number of health hazards (Johns & Eyzaguirre, 2000), and all affect nutritional status. Overpopulation, too, is a breakdown of the ecological balance in which the population may exceed the carrying capacity of the environment. This then undermines food production, which leads to inadequate food intake and/or the consumption of non-nutritious food, and thus to malnutrition. On the other hand, malnutrition itself can have far-reaching impacts on the environment, and can induce a cycle leading to additional health problems and deprivation. For example, malnutrition can create and perpetuate poverty, which triggers a cycle that hampers economic and social development, and contributes to unsustainable resource use and environmental degradation (WEHAB, 2002). Breaking the cycle of continuing poverty and environmental deterioration is a prerequisite for sustainable development and survival
MALNUTRITION IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
The nutritional status of women and children is particularly important, because it is through women and their off-spring that the pernicious effects of malnutrition are propagated to future generations. A malnourished mother is likely to give birth to a lowbirth-weight (LBW) baby susceptible to disease and premature death, which only further undermines the economic development of the family and society, and continues the cycle of poverty and malnutrition. Although child malnutrition declined globally during the 1990s, with the prevalence of underweight children falling from 27% to 22% (de Onis et al., 2004a), national levels of malnutrition still vary considerably (0% in Australia; 49% in Afghanistan)(WHO, 2003). The largest decline in the level of child malnutrition was in eastern Asia where underweight levels decreased by one half between 1990 and 2000. Underweight rates also declined in south-eastern Asia (from 35% to 27%), and in Latin America and the Caribbean the rate of underweight children decreased by one third (from 9% to 6%) over the last 10 years. In contrast, south-central Asia still has high levels of child malnutrition, even though the rate of underweight children declined from 50% to 41% during the 1990s. In Africa, the number of underweight children actually increased between 1990 and 2000 (from 26 million to 32 million), and 25% of all children under five years old are underweight, which signals that little changed from a decade earlier.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought effect of malnutrition among children
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting effect of malnutrition among children. 200 residents in oredo local government of Edo state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain effect of malnutrition among children. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenge of malnutrition among children
Summary
This study was on effect of malnutrition among children. Four objectives were raised which included: To examine the causes of poor nutrition in Oredo local government area of Edo State, to examine the effect of poor nutrition on children who are malnourished, to examine the relationship between anti-natal and post natal nutrition, to examine the academic performance of children suffering from poor nutrition. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents in Oredo local government of Edo state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made married men, married women, public workers and youths were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Based on results, it was concluded that the infant mortality and extended unknown adverse effect was caused mainly by malnutrition. According to these results, malnutrition shows almost 34% among other problems faced in children. Infant mortality and long term effect (unknown) in children is a burning issue it is concluded that malnutrition have a role in child mortality. And also, it has extensive adverse effect of 7.62 to 7.81%, this has great impact in a country’s economy. Furthermore, malnutrition from other diseases has high proportion.
Recommendation
That efforts for redressing child under nutrition issues should focus on factors associated with development outcomes such as maternal income, maternal education, and the creation of employment or economic engagements that do not compromise important child care practices such as breastfeeding. Such efforts should also have clearly thought out strategies for targeting children in single parent households and in elucidating factors that place boy children at greater risk for malnutrition compared to girl children
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