Determinants of anthropometric characteristics of under-five children in internally displaced persons´ camps in Abuja municipal area council, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: displacement predisposes to deprivation and hunger and consequently malnutrition. In Nigeria, information on anthropometric characteristics and associated factors among displaced under-five children is important to strengthen strategies to ameliorate malnutrition and promote child health. This study was conducted to identify the determinants on anthropometric indices among under-five children in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Abuja, Nigeria. METHODS: this cross-sectional study involved 317 mother-child (0-59 months) pairs selected using two-stage simple random sampling technique. Information on socio-demographic, care practices (infant feeding, immunization, deworming) and anthropometric characteristics of index children was obtained using semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Weight and length/height were assessed using standard procedure and analysed using World Health Organization (WHO) Anthro software. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at p=0.05. RESULTS: median age was 24 months, 50.8% were male and 42.3% were delivered at health facility. Only 45.4% were exclusively breastfed, 28.8% were fed complementary too early, 45.4% were dewormed in the preceding six months and 43.9% had complete/up-to-date immunisation. Prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 42%, 41% and 29.3%, respectively. Poor anthropometric indices were higher among male than female children, except wasting. Having good anthropometric index was 2.5 times higher among children 12 months than children 37 months (CI:1.08-5.8), 2.4 times higher among 1st birth order than 5th orders (CI:0.19-0.93), 1.7 times higher among female than male children (CI:1.08–2.82). CONCLUSION: malnutrition is a major health problem among under-five children in internal displaced camps and major determinants include age, birth order, gender and deworming status.

Keywords

• stunting
• underweight
• wasting
• predictors
• under-five children
• internally displaced persons
• child malnutrition
• infant mortality
• immunization
• nigeria