Determinants Of Acute Malnutrition Among Under-five Years Children
[A CASE STUDY OF ILLELA LOCAL GOVERNMENT SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA]

According to  UBOS and Macro International Inc  (2007),  malnutrition is highest if the birth interval is less than 24 months (41 percent) since it is an important indicator of the nutritional status of children. Child birth intervals were statistically insignificant in the study conducted InAraba and kalmalo districts.
2.3.5 MOTHERS AGE AT BIRTH
Mothers age at  birth has been associated  with malnutrition  among  under-five  year old children for  example it was found out in  Bangladesh that  children  whose mothers were less than 20 years  at  the time of birth  were 1.22 times more likely  to be stunted, wasted and underweight compared  to children  whose mothers were 20 years and above at birth  (Nure., Nuruzzaman and Goni, 2011). Bachou (2000) in  the Ugandan  settings identified some common risk factors for protein energy malnutrition, that  is  severely malnourished infants  mostly from  young mothers  hadlow weight at birth with less access to breast feeding that is essential for the infants protein intake.  Thirty four percent (34%)  of children received  supplementary food by three months and some mothers stopped breast feeding earlier.
A number of  studies have  reported  that mothers  age at birth is one of the  most important determinants of malnutrition among underfive children. It has been suggested that the risk is greater in younger mothers particularly those below 24 years because they are not ready to take care of the child including providing all the necessary attention required for the baby.
Similarly, underfive malnutrition is higher also among children whose mothers give birth when they are older especially after 35 years. This is attributed to the fact that giving birth at an older age is associated with a higher likelihood of giving birth to babies with a low birth weight (Shrimptonetal.,  2001; Jeyaseelan, 1997).  However, it is important to note that children of the younger mothers are traditionally  cared for by their  grandmothers  in  Turkey and  this was associated with low levels of  malnutrition among children of  younger mothers less than 24 years (Ergin et al., 2007).
2.4 MATERNAL FACTORS OF MALNUTRITION AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN
A lot has been written about the socio-economic determinants of malnutrition among children under-five children by several researchers in both developed and developing countries. The study focused on maternal education, marital status and maternal occupation.  Some other variables like place of residence and  region were not applicable since the study was conducted    in rural areas of Araba and Kalmalodistricts  both  found in Illela local govt area.
2.4.1 MATERNAL EDUCATION
Mother’s education level affects child’s nutrition through her choices and health  seeking skills related to nutrition,  hygiene, preventive care and disease treatment.  Mother’s responsibility to care for herself during pregnancy and her child through the most vulnerable stages of its life significantly affects under-five child malnutrition. Several studies have foundout that mothers education is associated with good nutrition practises and particularly under-five child nutrition  (Babatunde and Qaim, 2010;  Olwedo  et al.,  2008;  Webb and Block.,2004;  Shrimpton  etal.,2001).  These studies have pointed out the fact  most women with low education spend more time in gardens and feed their children on less nutritious foods.
Women who spend more time in gardening get limited time to attend to their children and prepare for them nutritious meals unlike their educated counterparts who normally focus on good child nutrition practices even when they are absent from  home most of the time.
Education helps mothers gain additional knowledge about the adequate intake of food for their children in terms of correct quantity, quality and frequency.  It also determines her income and this helps her access proper nutrition for the child as well as health services.