IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) e-ISSN: 2278-3008. Volume 5, Issue 4 (Mar. – Apr. 2013), PP 106-109 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 106 | Page Growth Pattern And Nutritional Status Of Under Five Children In Owo Local Government Area Of Ondo State, Nigeria. Mustapha, R.A. Bolajoko O.O. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Food Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, P.M.B. 1019, Owo Ondo State, Nigeria. Abstract: The growth pattern and nutritional status of under five children in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State was assessed between May and November, 2009 to know if their growth were normal or constitute public health problem. A total of 600 randomly selected male and female under-five children were surveyed using anthropometry. 120 infants (0.5-12 months old) were randomly selected from 15 primary hath centres while 480 children (aged 13-60 months) were randomly selected from crèche and nursery schools. Anthropometric measurements of subjects such as weight, height and MVAC were obtained. Data were analyzed using EPI-Info 2000 nutritional software. Findings show that majority of the children’s growth in height and weight slightly fall below CDC/NCHS growth curve at 50 th percentile of reference population when compared. Overall mean weight, height and MUAC of the children were 10.6kg, 78.5cm and 16.3cm respectively. 17% and 43% of all the children were stunted and underweight, while 9% and 6% were severely stunted and underweight (z-score <-3 S.D). Chronic and severe or acute form of malnutrition affects child’s mental capability; it erodes attention span and learning process. It is one of the highest causes of morbidity and mortality. Even stunting among the potential female mothers can bring about maternal morbidity and obstructed child labour, which becomes a recycle generational problem particularly through the female life course. Keywords: children, Growth pattern, Nutritional status, Malnutrition. I. Introduction In developing countries like Nigeria, poverty in early childhood are some major reasons for longer period of height attainment and short adult stature (World Bank, 2006). The size and composition of the body is determined by interaction between genetics and nutrition. And the assessment of these size and body compositions particularly using anthropometry in children not only serves as a means of evaluating the health and nutritional status. It is also a reflection of household income, food consumption pattern and excellent measurement of inequalities in human growth pattern (De Onis et al, 2000; Micklewright, 2000). Under- nutrition is an underlying cause of growth retardation, infection and death among children in Nigeria. This makes prevention of under-nutrition in children one of the top priorities in efforts to reduce childhood mortality (Caulfield et al, 2004). The effects of malnutrition on children are not limited to physical growth, but extend to mental, social and spiritual wellbeing. They could be transmitted from generation to another constituting a vicious spiral cycle (Gillespie et al, 1993). Contrary to common use, the term malnutrition refers not only to deficiency stated, but also to excess or imbalance in intake of calories, proteins and/or other nutrients (WHO 2006). Health and nutritional problems during childhood are the result of a wide range factors mostly related to unsatisfactory food intake, severe and repeated infections or a combination of the two (De Onis et al, 2004). Child nutritional status is an essential component and index of a country’s overall human development. There is a growing consensus that poor nutritional status during childhood can have long lasting consequences into adulthood, both in terms of health and mortality and in terms of other measures of human capital (Maluccio et al, 2005). Growth of children occurs in spurts and plateaus, but overall growths patterns are predictable. If a child’s overall pattern of growth changes, his dietar y intake should be evaluated to determine the reason for the sudden change. There are critical periods in childhood when malnutrition can cause lasting damage to growth for which adequate nutrition later may not be able to compensate leading to stunting. Stunting can co-exist with underweight or overweight/obesity (Doak et al, 2005). The WHO recommends that developing countries monitor the co-existence of stunting and overweight in children, because these are risk factors for chronic disease in adulthood (Gillespie et al, 1993). Various studies in Nigeria had shown that there is high prevalence of under-nutrition among under five children. However, this study is designed to assess the growth pattern and nutritional status of under five children in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria with a view to evaluate their growth pattern and to know if this will constitute public health problem in Owo community.