Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on Nutritional Practices Among Mothers of Under-Five Children in Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria (Published)
Optimal nutrition in the first five years of life is critical for growth, cognition, immunity, and survival; yet, undernutrition remains a leading public-health problem in Nigeria, where it contributes substantially to under-five morbidity and mortality. Mothers are the primary decision-makers regarding child feeding, so their sociodemographic characteristics are expected to shape child-nutrition outcomes. This study examined the influence of socio-demographic factors on the nutritional practices of mothers of under-five children in Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 231 mothers of under-five children selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Data were collected with a pre-tested, structured, closed-ended questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.72) and analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test of association in SPSS version 25, with significance set at p < 0.05. Most respondents were aged 20–30 years (61.0%), married (94.8%), had at least secondary education (72.7%), were self-employed (91.3%), and earned ₦20,000–50,000 monthly (82.7%). Overall, 98.7% demonstrated good child-nutrition practices. Maternal education was significantly associated with nutritional practice (Fisher’s exact p = 0.003), whereas maternal income (χ² = 0.64, p = 0.73) and maternal age (χ² = 1.94, p = 0.59) were not. Income and employment nevertheless improved access to nutritious foods, medicines, and immunisation, while rising food costs reduced meal portions and low-income mothers often prioritised their children’s nutrition over their own. Maternal education was the strongest determinant of appropriate child-feeding practices, and most mothers exhibited good practices despite economic constraints, reflecting the buffering effect of health-facility-based nutrition education. Strengthening female education, nutrition awareness, economic empowerment, food affordability, and access to child-health services is essential to sustain and improve maternal–child nutrition outcomes.
Keywords: child nutrition, feeding practices, maternal education, sociodemographic factors, under-five children