Child Nutritional status and Practice of C-IMCI among Mothers in Urban and Rural Communities in Oyo state

Abstract

Background: The introduction of the community component of the integrated management of childhood illnesses, (C-IMCI) includes the development of key household practices (KHPs) and has led to better health outcomes among under-five children. However, malnutrition and childhood illnesses continue to linger among under-five children across communities in Nigeria. This study comparatively explores the knowledge and adoption of key household practices as well as childhood nutritional status in selected rural and urban areas in Oyo state, Nigeria.
Method: A comparative cross-sectional study conducted in Ibadan Northeast and Akinyele local government areas of Oyo State. A total of 484 children aged 0-59 months and their mothers/caregivers were assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and Nigerian National Demographic and Health Survey tools.
Result: Mean age of mothers was 29.8+5.60 and slightly above half of the urban dwellers (56.4%) had good knowledge of child psychosocial development while half of the rural dwellers had poor knowledge (51.7%). More urban (64.4%) than rural (56.4%) dwellers had good composite key household practices (KHPs) (p=0.011). Stunting (64.1%) was the most prevalent type of malnutrition, and there were more wasted and underweight children in urban areas (12.0% and 23.4%) than in rural areas (8.5% and 22.0%).
Conclusion: The observed gaps in practice of KHPs and nutritional status of under-fives in urban and rural communities calls for greater awareness on key household practices through tailored health campaigns. This should be directed at communities to improve the knowledge and practice of KHPs among caregivers.