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FEED OR STARVE THE FUTURE: NUTRITION AND UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN

Ojo, Taiwo Folake, Prof. Akpor, Oluwaseyi Abiodun, Dr. Talabi, Justinah Yetunde, Dr. Ojo, Dada Emmanuel

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Abstract

The study assessed the nutrition and under- five children, the concepts discussed were; overview of nutrition in under- five children, factors contributing to malnutrition in under- five children, dietary specific behaviour that promote growth of under- five children, functions of adequate diets in physical and cognitive development of under- five children, techniques for diagnosing malnutrition in under- five children, roles of nurses in prevention of malnutrition and general preventive measures against malnutrition in under- five children. The implications of the study to nursing practice was that nurse practitioners should teach women in various health facilities the importance of healthy eating and how to prevent malnutrition. Nurses should concentrate more on enhancing and promoting maternal and child nutrition. Nutritional education programme should be broadened, training and retraining of nurse practitioners should be done on regular basis. It is therefore suggested that mothers should be educated healthy and adequate dietary practices. Nigerian Government should incorporate measures to lessen the burden of malnutrition among children. Funding of nutritional education programme by the national assembly should be incorporated. Appropriate monitoring and actions should be taken to promote national immunization against childhood diseases.

Keywords: Nutrition, Under- five children, Women, Malnutrition, Nutrition Education, dietary practices.