ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 5 YEARS ATTENDING THREE (3) SELECTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ANYIGBA COMMUNITY, DEKINA LGA, KOGI STATE

ABSTRACT This study investigated the prevalence of malnutrition among children aged 2-5 years attending three selected public nursery and primary schools in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State. The specific objectives were to ascertain the sociodemographic characteristics of the children, assess their anthropometric indices, determine the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight, and identify possible reasons for anthropometric deficits. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, targeting pupils aged 2-5 years from Evangel Group of Schools, Bedrock International School, and Nations Light Rosil Academy. The sample size was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, with descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, and one-way ANOVA applied as appropriate. Findings revealed that 37.1% of the respondents were males and 62.9% females. The majority (59.4%) were born in urban areas, while 40.6% were born in rural areas. Most children were of first (35.3%), second (25.9%), or third (22.6%) birth order. Parents were predominantly Christians (60.3%), with 36.8% and 39.7% of fathers having secondary and tertiary education. respectively. A majority (61.8%) belonged to families of 5-8 members, and 70% of the children had not been ill in the preceding four weeks. The study identified notable levels of anthropometric deficits, highlighting the presence of malnutrition among the participants. It was recommended that nutritional education be intensified for parents of children aged 0-5 years, and further research be conducted across broader public school samples to minimize demographic limitations.