Nutrition and Food Ration for Under-Five Children among Low income Households in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria during the Covid-19 Lockdown
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Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic posed survival and well-being challengesinNigeria, for children under five years of age. This study investigated the COVID19Pandemic-related complications on nutrition and ration for children in lowincomefamilies. Data was collected in a survey from 200 respondents randomly selectedintenrural communities using multi-sampling methods, consisting of stratified, cluster,systematic and purposive. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was adoptedfordatacollection. The data was presented in tables and discussed using the percentagewhilethequalitative data obtained from the respondents were presented based onthethemesrelated to the objectives of the study. Findings showed that low-income householdsinthestudy area faced hard times during the COVID-19 pandemic period and childrenunderfive years of age suf ered severely as a result inadequate food ration, poor nutritionandlimited access to primary healthcare services. Account of this, it was recommended that food supplements be given out at Primary Healthcare Centres in the rural areasbythegovernment with the support of Non-governmental Organizations for the benefit of suchchildren. Also, mothers and care-givers currently with children under five years of ageshould be enrolled compulsorily in the social investment programme of the government inorder to equip them economically.
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