Maternal overweight/obesity characteristics and child anthropometric status in Jos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: This study is to determine the pattern of overweight and obesity and its relationship with childhood anthropometric status in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jos, Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used in data collection. Maternal and child anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard WHO methods. Child anthropometric Z scores were obtained from WHO Anthroplus while BMI of mothers were also determined. Totally, 262 mother-child pairs were recruited. RESULTS: Mean maternal age and mean child age were 30.8 ± 6.3 yrs (15-47 yrs) and 22.3 ± 18.7 months (3-72 months). Prevalence of maternal underweight, overweight and obesity was 4.2% (11/262), 29.4% (77/262) and 25.9% (68/262), respectively. Child overweight/obesity was 5.4% (14/262), severe under-nutrition 5.7% (15/262). Mean maternal BMI was higher in the older, more educated and higher socioeconomic status (SES). Child mean birth-weight, weight-for-age Z-score and BMI-for-age Z-score (BAZ) were higher among mothers with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). All large-for-age babies were in mothers with maternal BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). Childhood over-nutrition was more common in maternal BMI of ≥25 kg/m(2). Overall, BAZ was directly related with maternal BMI, maternal age and birth-weight, although it was inversely related with maternal BM I ≥ 25 kg/m(2). CONCLUSION: Higher BMI is seen in educated and higher SES mothers and this impact on childhood anthropometry.