1.1 Introduction
Malnutrition is a significant public health problem and it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Rural Communities. The proportion of this disease is much higher in sub-Saharan countries than in other geographical regions globally. Malnutrition can be caused by deficiencies, excesses, imbalances in an individual’s consumption of nutrients (WHO, 2017). Malnutrition can be under nutrition or over nutrition (Sufiyan et al., 2012), but in this review, malnutrition solely refers to the deficiency of nutrition. One of the major health problem faced by children in developing countries today is under nutrition (Goon et al., 2011; Ubesie et al., 2012 and Mengistu et al., 2013). Under nutrition leads to diseases and death in children, especially in the low and middle income countries (WHO, 2018).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Globally, Malnutrition is regarded as the most important risk factor for illness and death and it is associated with 52.5 % of all deaths in young children (Müller O, Krawinkel M, 2005). According to UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank, out of the 161 million under-fives estimated to be stunted globally in 2013, over a third resided in Africa. It is considered is a major cause of child morbidity and mortality globally. There are several interventions to prevent the condition, but it is unclear how well they are taken up by both malnourished and well-nourished children and their mothers and the extent to which this is influenced by socio-economic factors (Tette, E. M., Sifah, E. K., & Nartey, E. T, 2015).
According to world health organization (2016), Malnutrition is a condition that results from deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions. One is ‘under nutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related no communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).
However according to Anderson AS, Anil Ray (2012), William Blake (2004), Hossain M, Massan MQ, Rahman MH, Kabir AR, (2009), Malnutrition can also occur when an individual’s diet does not provide him/her with adequate calories and proteins needed for maintenance and growth or they cannot fully utilize the food they eat due to illness (under nutrition), while those who suffer from over nutrition consumes too much calories. Malnutrition is not exclusively a problem of extreme poverty, nor only of the young, but affects all communities around the world and people of all ages including pregnant women.
Despite impressive progress in reducing hunger and poverty, about 800 million people worldwide continue to suffer from undernourishment. Food insecurity and malnutrition are problems affecting rural areas, as part of a pattern of deep-rooted spatial inequalities. Conventional sectoral agriculture and food policies often overlook such territorial disparities and, consequently, are unlikely to suffice to meet the sustainable development goal of ending hunger and achieving food security for all by 2030 (Cistulli, V., M. Heikkilä and R. Vos, 2016).
Improving the educational status of parents, especially of mothers, on nutrition, sanitation and common disease prevention strategies should logically reduce the malnutrition related mortality and morbidity. It is said that the way to the child’s stomach is through the mind of the mother. Quality of food taken, choices and quantity are all at the discretion of the mother or care giver. This problem is very crucial in Sub Saharan Africa, where access to formal education for the girl child in certain communities is still a major burning challenge. The burden of malnutrition has been directly linked to poverty, quality of food intake, excessive disease and poor health status (World Bank. 2006).
Economic growth and human development require well nourished populations who can learn new skills, think critically and contribute to their communities. Economic development is normally accompanied by improvements in a country’s food supply and the gradual elimination of dietary deficiencies, thus improving the overall nutritional status of the country’s population. However this Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report points out that increasing urbanization in poor countries has consequences which are not always positive. In countries with widespread deprivations, when food supply becomes more abundant, there occur changes in diets, patterns of work and leisure —often referred to as “nutrition transition”. The diet shifts towards a higher energy density with a larger role of fat and sugars in foods. The greater saturated fat intake, reduced fruit and vegetable intake and reduced intake of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber may have negative consequences. These dietary changes along with reduced physical activity result in obesity and an epidemic of non-communicable diseases in developing countries (World Bank. 2006).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Malnutrition in Rural Communities and the Factors Affecting Food Choice.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that mal-nutrition leads to diseases and death in children, especially in the low and middle income countries (WHO, 2018). Malnutrition causes Nigeria billions in lost revenue through reduced economic productivity, days away from work due to illness and money spent on treating ailments (World Bank, 2014). The negative impacts of malnutrition are seen in families and communities in various aspects such as economically, socially and medically (WHO, 2018).
Malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries. It is the most important risk factor for the burden of disease causing about 300, 000 deaths per year directly and indirectly responsible for more than half of all deaths in children. (Müller O, Krawinkel M, 2005). In Nigeria, it is one of the main cause of morbidity and mortality in rural areas among other diseases (Demissie S, Worku A, 2013).
Lack of mother’s education and knowledge about Malnutrition in children under five years of age could be the contributing factors of malnutrition among children in Nigerian rural areas. Evidence shows that it is important for mothers to know about nutrition for the well being and healthy development of young children. This study intends to examine malnutrition in rural communities and the factors affecting food choice.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Malnutrition in Rural Communities and the Factors Affecting Food Choice. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain whether rural dwellers have adequate knowledge of the proper nutritional intake.
- To determine the extent of prevalence of malnutrition in rural communities.
- To determine whether the food choices of rural dwellers contributes to the height of malnutrition in the communities.
- To examine the factors such as; poor income status, family background, lack of proper nutritional knowledge, cultural beliefs and inadequate food security affecting the food choices in rural communities.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does rural dweller have adequate knowledge of the proper nutritional intake?
- Does the food choice of rural dwellers contribute to the height of malnutrition in the communities?
- What the extent of prevalence of malnutrition in rural communities?
- What are the factors affecting the food choices in rural communities?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Rural dweller does not have adequate knowledge of the proper nutritional intake.
- H1: Rural dweller has adequate knowledge of the proper nutritional intake.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: The food choice of rural dwellers does not contribute to the height of malnutrition in the communities.
- H1: The food choices of rural dwellers contribute to the height of malnutrition in the communities.
1.7 Significance of Study
The government and the policy makers will borrow from findings of the study to formulate policies that will enhance the proper management of malnutrition in the country especially in the rural areas.
Hospital administrations will gain an understanding from the study on the malnutrition and the factors associated to it in children under five years of age. They will be able to device the ideal ways of improving the management of malnutrition and putting in place a proper nutrition intervention. With the new knowledge, Management boards can make policy recommendation as well as policy implementation possible.
It will also help the researcher to advance his knowledge on how to write research on more for future studies, as the researcher will be going for further studies. The findings will be important for other scholars as a point of reference, and they can take up the recommendations of the study as a basis for their research articles.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on Malnutrition in Rural Communities and the Factors Affecting Food Choice using Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State as a case study. This study will ascertain whether rural dwellers have adequate knowledge of the proper nutritional intake, determining the extent of prevalence of malnutrition in rural communities, determining whether the food choices of rural dwellers contributes to the height of malnutrition in the communities, and examining the factors affecting the food choices in rural communities.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Malnutrition: Is a broad term commonly used as an alternative to under nutrition but technically it also refers to over nutrition. People are malnourished if their diet does not provide adequate calories and protein for growth and maintenance or they are unable to fully utilize the food they eat due to under nutrition (UNICEF, 2006).
Nutritional Status: The condition of the body in those respects influenced by the diet; the levels of nutrients in the body and the ability of those levels to maintain normal metabolic integrity.
Under Nutrition: Under nutrition denotes insufficient intake of energy and nutrients to meet an individual’s needs to maintain good health. In other words it is a condition where an individual is not getting enough calories, protein, or micronutrients (Young, E.M. 2012).
1.11 Organization of the Studies
The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review.
Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter (chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.
