Peer-reviewed article
Nutritional Status of the Under Five in Bayelsa State, A Comparison of a Government Intervened Community with A Non-Government Intervened Community
N. P. Ndenu ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study compares the nutritional status of children under five and their caregivers in two communities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Agudama-Epie received a UNICEF intervention and Amasoma did not. Data came from 202 caregiver-child pairs, using questionnaires and body measurements that followed WHO standards. Malnutrition was found in both communities but was lower in the intervened one, which also had better hygiene, more varied diets and better feeding habits. The authors conclude that government and NGO nutrition programmes can reduce undernutrition and that lasting results need caregiver education, poverty reduction and better environmental health.
Key points
- Malnutrition was common in both communities but lower in Agudama-Epie, the intervened community.
- Stunting, wasting and underweight rates were relatively lower in Agudama-Epie.
- Amasoma had higher malnutrition linked to poor breastfeeding, low dietary variety, inadequate sanitation and more disease.
- Underweight and overweight occurred together in families, which the authors describe as a dual burden of malnutrition.
- The authors say lasting gains need caregiver education, poverty reduction and better environmental health.
Limitations
The abstract gives no figures for malnutrition rates and does not describe what the intervention involved. With only two communities compared at a single point in time, it cannot show that the intervention caused the differences.
Abstract
Child malnutrition is a major health issue in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas like Bayelsa State. This study compares the nutritional status of under-five children and caregivers in Agudama-Epie (a UNICEF-intervened community) and Amasoma (a non-intervened community). Using a cross-sectional design, data was collected from 202 caregiver-child pairs through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements following WHO standards. Results showed malnutrition was prevalent in both communities, but lower in Agudama-Epie, with better hygiene, diet diversification, and feeding habits. Stunting, wasting, and underweight rates were relatively lower in Agudama-Epie. In contrast, Amasoma had higher malnutrition rates linked to poor breastfeeding, low dietary variety, inadequate sanitation, and increased disease burden. The study also found malnutrition is a dual burden, with underweight and overweight cases coexisting in families, reflecting a mix of BMI patterns among caregivers. The study concludes that government and NGO nutrition interventions can reduce undernutrition among under-five children. Sustainability requires combined efforts in caregiver education, poverty reduction, and environmental health enhancement. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to address malnutrition in vulnerable communities.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- A UNICEF-supported nutrition intervention in Agudama-Epie community. The abstract does not describe its components.
- Population
- 202 caregiver-child pairs with children under five in Agudama-Epie (intervened) and Amasoma (non-intervened), Bayelsa State
Key finding
Malnutrition was present in both communities but lower in the intervened community, Agudama-Epie.
Ndenu · OpenAlex · 2 Oct 2026