PREVALENCE AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF PROTEINENERGY MALNUTRITION IN 5 YEARS OLD CHILDREN IN SHAO TOWN IN MORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KWARA STATE

ABSTRACT Malnutrition is the most common nutrition disorder in developing countries and it remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Aims to identify the prevalence of malnutrition (under weight, stunting. Protein energy malnutrition describes severe malnutrition resulting from dietary inadequacy of protein or calories or both and indicates interdependence of the two. PEM is seen as the leading cause of death in children in development countries protein energy malnutrition has been considered a range of pathological condition arising from a coincident lack of varying proportion of protein and calories. It develops in children whose consumption of protein and energy (measured by calories) is insufficient to satisfy their nutrition need. This study investigated the prevalence and health consequences of protein-energy malnutrition in 5 years old children in Shao town in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara state. Using the questionnaire as its research instrument, fifty (50) copies were distributed randomly in the study area. The results gathered showed that all the respondents were aware of what protein-energy malnutrition just as majority (60%) of the respondents reported that protein malnutrition required medical treatment while 40% went for traditional medicines. To reduce or prevent the impacts of PEM (e.g. wasting, stunted growth), there is the need for parents to follow the appropriate health education and enlightenment programmes on the importance of good nutrition in children during antenatal visits, the government through the ministry of health should ensure the availability and affordability of antenatal services and social and cultural beliefs which encourage families to give birth to large number of children should be discouraged.