The Nutritional Status and Diets of Preschool Children (2-5 Years) In Nigeria: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Optimal nutrition in formative years supports age-appropriate growth and development and promotes lifelong health. This work aimed at examining the diets and nutritional status of preschoolers in Nigeria through published nutritional studies in order to provide more information that can be leveraged for age-appropriate interventions. The review included 34 studies retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, the Web of Science, AJOL, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect on preschoolers' nutritional status and diet. The articles chosen used mixed techniques and quantitative approaches and were published between 2009 and 2025. The predominant criteria for article selection during screening were the study ideas, the phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation, and research type. The PRISMA-ScR Standards and SPIDER framework were used to screen the articles that met the selection criteria. These study findings revealed a high prevalence of both undernutrition and the increasing emergence of overweight and obesity. Zinc and iron deficiency anaemia were also widespread, and micronutrient powder supplementation provided only minor improvements. Furthermore, malaria, anaemia, diarrhoea, and gut parasitic infections continued to be significant health burdens that negatively affected the nutritional status of preschoolers. In studies also reviewed, the diets of undernourished preschoolers were characterised by high intakes of starch-based staples and low intakes of legumes, animal foods, fruits, and vegetables. In contrast, those of overweight or obese preschoolers were characterised by high intake of highly sweetened foods and drinks. Therefore, there is a need for more studies, particularly interventional studies focusing mainly on preschoolers, in order to close the nutrient gaps associated with their age.