MOTHERS’ VARIABLES AS DETERMINANTS OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN 0-5 YEARS IN NSIT IBOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

This study on mothers’ variables and nutritional status of children 0- 5 years aimed at assessing the influence of mother’s age, education and marital status on nutritional status of children 0-5 years in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted the ex-post facto survey research design. A research-made instrument CHRMDS, with a reliability of .93 on Kuder Richardson 21 coefficient alpha scale, was used to elicit responses from 201 mothers, and the nutritional status of 202 children measured in body weight was obtained from the medical records kept in the two medical facilities in the study area. These summed up to a sample size of 403, representing 10% of the study population. Data from 84% of the respondents were suitable for use in analysis. Simple percentage, mean score analysis and independent t-test statistical analysis were adopted. The result of the analysis showed that mothers’ variables examined in the study have significant influence on the nutritional status of children 0-5 years in the study area. Based on the findings, it was recommended that a programme on nutritional education should be organized for mothers in the state, especially in Nsit Ibom.