Maternal and household Predictors of Malnutrition among Under-five Children in Internally Displaced Person Camps of Adamawa and Yobe States, Nigeria

Malnutrition is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to assess the predictors of malnutrition among children less than five years in IDP camps of Adamawa and Yobe states, Nigeria. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from September 2018 to January 2019. A sample of 807 children aged 6 to 59 months was selected using the probability proportionate to size sampling (PPSS) technique. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on the children and their caregivers. The overall prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 17.1%, 40.9%, and 29.7%, respectively. The predictors of stunting were the mother's level of education and family planning usage. For wasting, identified predictors include the mother's level of education, family planning usage, family planning interest, mother's visit to the antenatal clinic, and the number of mother's visits to the antenatal clinic. In contrast, the predictors of underweight consisted of mother's level of education, family planning usage, family planning interest, mother's visit to antenatal clinic, and household income. In conclusion, it is evident from these findings that malnutrition, especially the acute form (wasting), is not only disproportionally high among under-five children but is a public health emergency that calls for urgent attention from concerned authorities. Collaborative efforts among sectors like health, agriculture, education, environment and finance; are very critical.