ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT FAMILY FUNCTIONING ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN BAUCHI NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition is a major public health problem in developing countries including Nigeria. Assessment of the nutritional status of children and the effect of family functioning on it will improve understanding of the magnitude of the problem and aid planning of appropriate interventions that will improve child health and development.

Objective: The goal of this study is to assess the effect of family functioning on the nutritional status of under-five children attending ATBUTH, Bauchi.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 349 under-five children attending the Paediatric Outpatients' Clinic of ATBUTH, Bauchi. Data were collected and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20. Frequency and percentages were used to summarize the data. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used for analysis at p < 0.05.

Result: The age range of the participants was 13-24 months with males accounting for 64.2%. The study observed 70.5% of the respondents perceived their family to be functional. Nutritional status of under-five children using weight for height z-score was found to be an independent predictor of family functioning (p=0.010). However, no significant relationship was found between the nutritional status of under-five children using height for age z-score and family functioning (p=0.112).

Conclusion: The study concludes that the functionality of the family determines the weight of under-five children, while the functionality of the family has no effect on the height of the under-five children.

Keywords: Family Functioning; Nutritional Status; Under-Five.