Influence of Maternal Education on Nutritional Status of Pre-School Children in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State. Nigerian.
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Date
2015
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Association for the Promotion of Education, Health, Environmentand Technology Research. University of Benin, Benin, Edo State
Abstract
Abstract
The study investigated the influence of maternal education on nutritional status of pre-school
children (0-5years old) in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. Four research questions were raised and two research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised women (and their children) who have children aged 0-5years attending Cottage Hospital and Adewole Clinic and Maternity. A total of one hundred (100) women (Nursing parents) and their children constituted the study sample using random sampling technique. The instruments used were questionnaire tagged Maternal Education and Nutritional Status Questionnaire (MENSQ) and anthropometric measurement, height and weight were measured and compared with WHO standard values. The instrument had reliability index of .749. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The null hypothesis formulated for the study was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The results revealed that 40% of the children examined had low height for age 23% had a normal height for age while 37.0% had a high height for age. Also. 35.0% had a low weight for age 38.0% had a normal weight for age while 27.096 had a high weight for age. The findings revealed no significant relationship between the level of maternal education and nutritional status of pre-school children in the study area. It was concluded that maternal education does not influence the nutritional status of preschool children. Based on the findings of the study,recommendations proffered among others are that government should. endeavour to make provision for women empowerment as this might have significant influence on nutritional status, also more enlightenment programmes should be launched to create awareness n the importance of nutrition and dissemination of information regarding nutritional needs of pre-school children.
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Keywords
Maternal education,, Nutrition ,, Nutritional Status, Preschool Children, Anthropometric Measurement