Dietary Diversity and Micronutrient Adequacy Among Preschool Children in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Micronutrient deficiencies in early childhood have lasting effects on growth, cognitive development, and immune function. Dietary diversity is a widely used proxy indicator for micronutrient adequacy in young children. This cross-sectional descriptive study assesses dietary diversity and estimates micronutrient adequacy among preschool children aged 24 to 59 months in Ilorin and Offa local government areas of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A total of 305 children were enrolled from nursery schools and child welfare clinics. Dietary information was collected using a 24-hour dietary recall complemented by a food frequency questionnaire. Minimum dietary diversity was calculated using the WHO indicator of consumption of five or more food groups. Dietary adequacy for key micronutrients including iron, zinc, vitamin A, and folate was estimated using reference nutrient intakes. Results showed that 41.6% of children met the minimum dietary diversity threshold. Grains and roots dominated the diet, while animal-source foods were consumed by fewer than 30% of children daily. Estimated vitamin A inadequacy was 64.8%, iron inadequacy 57.3%, and zinc inadequacy 49.5%. Household food expenditure and maternal education were significantly associated with dietary diversity score (p less than 0.01). The study recommends food-based approaches including promotion of home gardens, nutrition education targeting caregivers, and integration of micronutrient supplementation into child welfare programmes. Keywords: dietary diversity, micronutrients, preschool children, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.