Policy Options to Enhance Markets for Nutrient-Dense Foods in Nigeria

This report analyses policy options for reducing undernutrition in Nigeria by improving the functioning of markets and the private sector in providing food. The report identifies specific constraints that inhibit businesses from providing these foods, and reviews experiences with five policy strategies to address this problem. The analysis reveals that particular food-based strategies have been successful when they have overcome or circumvented key market constraints. Identifying which the main constraints affecting a particular market or population are and assessing whether a particular approach will overcome them, should therefore be the first steps in developing food-based policies and programmes to reduce undernutrition. The report outlines options for strengthening these strategies in Nigeria, aimed at donors, federal and state governments, private sector organisations and non-profits.UK Department for International Developmen

Infant and child feeding index and nutritional status of 0-24 month old children in southwestern Nigeria

Objective: To examine the infant and young child feeding practices and nutritional status of children in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria.Method: A cross sectional study was carried out to assess infant feeding practices of mothers and its effect on child nutritional status. A multistage random sampling procedure was used to select 450 mothers of children between the ages of 0-24 months. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices were examined using the 24hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. An adapted version of the Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI) was used and was made age specific for ages 0-6, 7- 12, 13-18 and 13-24 months , with scores further categorized into low, medium and high. Data was analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and regression analysis.Result: Mean age of mothers and children was 30.4±6.1 years and 11.3±7.3 months respectively. Only 23.9% and 26.3% of children were exclusively breastfed and bottled fed respectively. The mean for the number of complementary food consumed per day were 2.81, 3.65, 3.83 and 4.13 respectively for ages 0-6, 7-12, 13-18 and 13-24 months. The mean ICFI were 1.91(0-6 months), 2.43 (7-12 months), 2.55(13-18 months) and 2.51 (13-24 months). Association between WHZ, WAZ, HAZ and ICFIs showed that children between the ages 0-6 and 7-12 months of age were stunted and had low ICFI scores.Conclusion: The adoption of correct infant and child feeding practices can reduce the prevalence of protein energy malnutrition in children. Therefore ICFI can be a good tool for nutrition education.Keywords: Infant and Child Feeding Index, Nutritional Status, Malnutritio

Vitamin A deficiency is prevalent in children less than 5 years of age in Nigeria

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious and widespread public health problem in developing countries. We conducted a nationwide food consumption and nutrition survey in Nigeria to help fomulate strategies to address VAD, among other deficiencies. One objectives was to assess the vitamin A status of children,5 y old. A total of 6480 households with a mother and child,5 y old were randomly sampled. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture and processed to obtain serum for measurement of retinol concentration by HPLC. Nationwide, 29.5% of children,5 y old were vitamin A deficient (serum retinol,0.70mmol/L). The proportions of children with VAD differed among the agroecological zones; incidences were 31.3% in the dry savanna, 24.0% in the moist savanna, and 29.9% in the humid forest (P,0.001). More children (P,0.05) with severe deficiency (serum retinol,0.35mmol/L) lived in the humid forest (7.1%) than in the dry (3.1%) or moist savanna (2.4%). The distribution of VA in children, 5 y old was 25.6% in the rural sector, 32.6% in the medium, and 25.9% in the urban sector (P,0.05). In conclusion, VAD is a severe public health problem in Nigeria. Although the proportion of children with low serum vitamin A levels varies agroecologically and across sectors, it is an important public health problem in all zones and sectors