PERCEIVED FACTORS INFLUENCING NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN AMONG NURSING MOTHERS IN OGBOMOSO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OYO STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Good nutrition is a prerequisite for the optimal health and growth, cognitive development, academic performance, productivity, socioeconomic development of individuals and national development of countries, however problems related to poor nutrition affect the entire population. The study is aimed at assessing the perceived factors influencing nutritional status of under-five children among nursing mothers in Ogbomoso North Local Government Oyo State, Nigeria.Simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 206 respondents. A predesigned self-structured questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. The responses were analysed with descriptive statistics (Frequency, table and graphical representation) and association between categorical variables was tested by chi square test. Most of the respondents 102(49.5%)were between the ages of 30-39 years. Most of the respondents 185(89.8%) indicated that Nutritional status is a measure of the health condition of an individual as affected primarily by the intake of food and nutrients. 103(50.0%) initiated breastfeeding within 30minutes of delivery. There is significant relationship between the level of knowledge of nutritional status of under-five chidren and the age of nursing mothers in Ogbomoso North Local Government Oyo State, Nigeria. The study concluded that 156(75.7%) of the respondents have good knowledge and 50(24.3%) have poor knowledge of nutritional status of under-five children. 138(67%) of the respondents have good practice and 68(33%) have poor practice of nutritional status of under-five children. The perceived factors influencing nutritional status of under-five as indicated by majority of the respondents are; Sex of the child, age of the child, Diseases such as protein energy malnutrition (PEM), breastfeeding,position of child, lack of knowledge, finance,job and maternal age. Nurses should actively engage with the community to raise awareness about the factors influencing the nutritional status of under-five children.