A Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Perspectives Among Under-Fives in Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States in 2022: A Case Study of Randomly Selected Areas

Abstract

This study compared the nutritional perspectives of the Under-fives in selected locations in Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States. Based on the results and finding in this survey, it was revealed that the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) as per Mid-Upper-m Circumference (MUAC) among children 6-59 months in Akwa Ibom State indicated 15.8% (9.8-24.6 95% CI) and that of SAM is 7.6% (3.3-16.5 95% CI), which are at critical stages at the time of the survey, based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The study also revealed that the prevalence rate for Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) among girls was 19.1% (12.2 - 28.8 95% C.I.), higher than that for boys, 11.8% (5.9 - 22.2 95% C.I.). This was also applicable to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases as determined by MUAC. Similarly, the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) as per MUAC among children 6-59 months in Bayelsa State indicated a 20.6% (13.9 - 29.4 95% C.I.), and that of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) indicated a 7.9 % (4.1 - 14.8 95% C.I.), which were at critical stages at the time of the study, based on the IPC and WHO classification.  The prevalence rate for GAM among girls in Bayelsa State was 22.6% (14.3 - 33.7 95% C.I.), which was higher than that for boys: 18.4% (11.6 - 28.0 95% C.I.). This is also applicable in the SAM cases based on MUAC.