Nutrition knowledge and health vulnerability of mothers of pre-school children in north-central, Nigeria.

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study explores the contribution of nutrition knowledge to the health status of pre-school children's mothers in Niger State, North-Central, Nigeria.DesignThe study is a descriptive cross-sectional design using a quantitative data collection method.Setting/participantsA multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 450 mothers of pre-school children across Niger state, Nigeria. Chi-square and linear regression were used to test the level of statistical significance (at p ResultThe results showed that the majority (63.8%) of the mothers were within 26-35 years, and more than half (51.6%) of the mothers lacked knowledge of a "balanced diet". Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products were the least consumed food group among the mothers (7.1% and 9.1%, respectively). Place of residence, occupation, and method of waste disposal were significantly associated with maternal minimum dietary diversity adequacy (pConclusionDietary diversity among mothers was associated with the socioeconomic status and BMI of the mothers, which were strong determinants of meal quality and health outcomes in Nigeria and other developing countries experiencing food insecurity.