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Abstract

The Niger Delta is crucial to the Nigerian economy because of its oil reserves. Damage to the local population and the ecosystem has resulted from oil contamination. The effects of oil exposure on children younger than five years in Nigeria's Rivers and Imo States were investigated. This study compared anthropometric measurements to World Health Organization (WHO) standards for healthy growth. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight in both groups was determined. Children were stunted at a rate of 32.9% in Gokana and 38.6% in Ideato. Gokana had more garbage (19.7%) than Ideato (13.4%), revealing greater incidence of acute malnutrition in the former. Gokana had a significantly higher proportion of underweight female children (31%) against 4.8% in Ideato. Oil pollution has negative effects on the diets of children under the age of five, according to these findings. Children under the age of five experienced negative nutritional effects from exposure to heavy oil pollution. The higher prevalence of wasting and underweight in Gokana compared to Ideato suggests that environmental contamination and limited access to nutritious food in polluted areas contribute to poor growth and increased malnutrition rates. Hence, Nigeria government should work towards reducing and eliminating oil pollution through stricter regulations and enforcement of environmental standards. This includes implementing effective waste management systems and promoting sustainable practices in oil-producing region.

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Oil Pollution anthropometry characteristics under five children Niger Delta

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Copyright (c) 2023 Justina Ijeoma Ezebuwa, Eka B. Essien, Francis C. Anacletus, Dr. Catherine

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Ezebuwa, J. I., Essien, E. B., Anacletus, F. C., & Ikewuchi, C. C. (2023). Anthropometry Characteristics of Under-Five Children Living in Selected Communities in Rivers State and Imo State. Journal of Public Health and Toxicological Research, 1(1), 37–41. Retrieved from https://jphtr.com/index.php/journal/article/view/15
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