“Malnutrition rates among children 0-36 months and women of reproductive age in
Nigeria are high and vary significantly across rural-urban locations, geopolitical
regions, and agroecological zones, constituting a significant public health
challenge. Using National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2003 data, we
sought to understand better what the determinants of child and maternal nutrition
are and whether they differ significantly in terms of their nature, levels, and effects
across these domains. We also sought to understand what implications any
significant differences would have for policy responses. A range of
socioeconomic, demographic, and public health related factors work together to
influence maternal and child nutrition outcomes among rural and urban dwellers
across the geopolitical regions and agroecological zones. Our analyses show
some major variables that influence maternal and child nutrition including
household economic status, having a household head predominantly engaged
with agriculture, maternal work to earn income, and maternal education or
knowledge. Other determinants include mother’s age, decision-making on her
income and her health, percent of children under five years in a household, child
based characteristics such as age and sex, dietary diversity and meal frequency,
and public health services such as having antenatal care and vaccinations. The
results indicate that while the effect of some determinants cuts across many of the
rural and urban regions and zones, the effects of other determinants are more
localized in rural or urban settings of particular regions and zones. While maternal
education and knowledge are critical for improved maternal and child nutrition,
efforts to improve household economic status, increase the rural farmers’ benefits
from agriculture, and empower mothers to earn income and take decisions,
complemented with nutritional and public health services, are more likely to
improve both child and maternal nutrition in the rural areas than in urban,
especially in regions with the highest burden of malnutrition. Current levels of
determinants appear linked more to policy implementation challenges than to the
lack of or deficient components of policies to effectively address these
determinants. To substantially improve nutrition conditions of mothers and
children in rural Nigeria, strengthening or reviewing current policy and
implementation processes in key areas is critical.”
