Dietary Diversity and Anthropometric Indices of Under-Five Children in Rural Nigeria

Background: Malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly among under-five children in rural communities. Dietary diversity is recognized as an important determinant of child nutrition, influencing growth and overall health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the dietary diversity score (DDS) and nutritional status of under-five children in selected rural areas of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area (LGA), Ogun State, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 226 under-five children and their caregivers in six randomly selected rural communities. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and dietary intake were obtained using structured questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recall. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference) were taken to assess nutritional status using WHO growth standards. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and associations between dietary diversity and nutritional indicators were examined using chi-square and regression analysis. Results: Findings revealed that 69.3% of the children had low dietary diversity (≤4 food groups), while only 4.6% had high dietary diversity (≥9 food groups). The most commonly consumed food groups were cereals (92.5%) and vegetables (81.7%), whereas dairy products (21.4%) and eggs (15.9%) were the least consumed. Stunting was observed in 14.2% of the children, while 6.8% were wasted and 3.5% were underweight. A significant association was found between dietary diversity and stunting (p=0.027), with children having lower DDS being more likely to be stunted. Socioeconomic factors, including family income (p=0.008) and maternal education (p=0.021), were significant predictors of dietary diversity. Conclusion: This study highlights the poor dietary diversity and its significant impact on child nutrition in rural communities. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve access to diverse and nutrient-rich foods. Community nutrition education, economic empowerment programs, and policies that promote local food production should be prioritized to enhance dietary diversity and reduce childhood malnutrition in Nigeria.