Topic Exploring the Utilization of Food Items Used for Infant Complementary Feeding of Mothers with Children (6-23) Months in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State Nigeria: A Focus Discussion by Dr. Chukwuemeka Ngozi Elizabeth & Prof. Pauline Ngozi Ikwuegbu
Abstract
Chukwuemeka Ngozi Elizabeth* and Pauline Ngozi Ikwuegbu
In developing countries like Nigeria, malnutrition is still a serious health problem affecting infants and young children (black et al. 2013, stuiter et al. 2015 & n 2021). Nigeria has the highest level of malnutrition in children after India (UNICEF 2011, in Nnam 2013 & Chukwuemeka, 2021). Globally and in sub sahara Africa 144 million children under 5 were estimated to be stunted, 47 million were estimated to be wasted and 38.3 million were overweight or obese (UNICEF 2013) in Chukwuemeka 2021). (WHO 2019 in Chukwuemeka 2021) stated that 44% of infants 0-6 months are exclusively breast fed, few of them received nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods. Less of them from 6-23 months meet the criteria of dietary diversity of feeding frequency that are appropriate for their age. In developing countries like Nigeria, the traditional complementary foods are grossly inadequate, mainly cereals, starch and tubers among others, mode of operation not properly optimized to provide the required nutrients.