THE CHILDHOOD NUTRITION: A PANACEA FOR RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AWKA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

This study was designed to investigate “The childhood nutrition: A panacea for restoration of sustainable development in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State”. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population of this study comprised the entire mothers from the nine towns in Awka South L.G.A. To ensure a propitious result, a stratified sampling technique was used for selection of six towns and a simple random sampling technique was later used for selection of fifty mothers from each town. From this population, three hundred of them were selected for the study. This study was a descriptive survey design. A structured questionnaire which had the reliability of 0.85 after the pilot study was used as instrument for collection of data. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation. The data presentation was done in order of research questions. The findings were that childhood nutrition promotes proper growth and development. It is very vital to their overall survival. The perturbing factors affecting childhood nutrition include food insecurity, malnutrition, Hiv/Aids status of the child, the financial status of the parents, and inadequate prenatal care among others. The nutritional well-being of all people is a pre-condition for the sustainable development of societies. To promote childhood nutrition, children should be given the prerogative to consume sufficient nutritious vitamins because, it allows them to grow, function, and remain healthy. Recommendations were made based on the findings that strategies should be put in place to encourage breastfeeding among nursing mothers because, it enhances childhood nutrition. Again, Government should reduce costs and increase the nutritional valued foods for children. Educational implications of the study as well as suggestions for further studies were also stipulated.