NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF MOTHERS ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN BIRSHIN FULANI, BAUCHI METROPOLIS

Abstract Malnutrition among children under five remains a pressing public health concern, particularly in underserved communities like Birshin Fulani, Bauchi Metropolis. This study assessed the impact of maternal nutritional knowledge on the nutritional status of children under five, using a cross-sectional design involving 316 mother-child pairs. Socio-demographic analysis revealed that 60.1% of mothers earned below ₦40,000 monthly, and 80.4% had no formal or only primary education, indicating economic and educational constraints. Nutritional knowledge assessment showed that only 37.3% of mothers had received formal training on child nutrition, and a mere 10.1% were aware that malnutrition could lead to stunted growth. Despite 84.2% acknowledging that diet affects learning ability, gaps in practical knowledge persisted. Anthropometric data revealed that 18.4% of children had been diagnosed with malnutrition, while 30.4% had suffered frequent illnesses in the past year. Notably, BMI-for-age analysis showed that 76.5% of children were above +1SD, and 30.4% exceeded +3SD, indicating a rising trend of overnutrition. Dietary patterns further confirmed this imbalance, with 63.3% of children consuming rice five times or more weekly, and 56.3% consuming bread at similar frequency, while intake of fruits, vegetables, and legumes remained low. A Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant relationship between maternal nutritional knowledge and child nutritional status (χ² = 40.758, df = 16, p = .001). These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted nutrition education, improved food access, and community-based interventions to address both undernutrition and emerging overnutrition. Strengthening maternal awareness and promoting balanced diets are essential steps toward improving child health outcomes in Birshin Fulani and similar settings.