ASSESSMENT OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY AND UNDERNUTRITION AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN USING THE COMPOSITE INDEX OF ANTHROPOMETRIC FAILURE IN ILARO, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Food insecurity and under nutrition remain significant public health concern among children under five in Nigeria which contribute to high morbidity and mortality. This study assessed household food insecurity and under nutrition among under-five children using composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) in Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional design was employed involving 410 mother-child pairs selected through multistage sampling. Data were obtained using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and household food security assessments. Descriptive (frequency and percentages) and inferential (chi-square) analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27.0. The prevalence of food insecurity reached 74.6%. Among the children, there was a high prevalence of stunting at 61.2%, underweight at 34.1%, and wasting at 37.1%. Additionally, 14.9% experienced SAM/MAM. More than half (52.2%) of the children under five years exhibited at least one form of anthropometric failure, indicating widespread growth and nutritional deficits in the population. The study concludes that household food insecurity and under nutrition in Ilaro are alarmingly high, with the CIAF revealing a greater burden than conventional indices this result emphasized the urgent need for integrated interventions at the local level to improve access to food, and enhancing maternal education as means of addressing child malnutrition.