Gender and occupation of household head as major determinants of malnutrition among children in Nigeria
Waheed Mobolaji Ashagidigbi, Tinuola Mariam Ishola, Abiodun Olusola Omotayo
Abstract
Gender inequality and malnutrition are regarded as inseparable parts of the vicious cycle of poverty, being considered a cause and an effect of hunger and poverty. The majority of rural households practise subsistent farming with low returns, specifically among women, which affects the nutritional status of the households, particularly children five years old and under. Examining the gender and occupational effect of households’ heads on the nutritional status of children in Nigeria is therefore important. Potential respondents’ details were obtained from the Nigerian National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) data, the data being analyze using descriptive statistics, Z-scores and ordered probit model. The study revealed that most malnourished children were males in female-headed households living in rural areas in the northwest zone of the country. Human capital development, gender and sector focused nutritional policy measures are essential to address malnutrition among children in Nigeria.