Title:
LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN ADO-EKITI COMMUNITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILDHOOD MALNUTRITION-MICRO VIEW PERSPECTIVES

Authors:
Ilori, Isaac A. (Ph.D) ,Nigeria

Abstract:
Recent studies affirmed that inability for children in low-and-middle-income countries (rural area mostly concerned) to develop to their full cognitive potential and perhaps having adverse effects on physical and mental development, thus led to poor labour productivity in rural communities, had been traced to malnourished syndrome. Given this scenario, this paper is out to investigate the effect of childhood malnutrition on labour productivity as evidence in Ado-Ekiti community, Ekiti State, Nigeria using micro data analysis. The data was sourced from respondents across population samples (Ado Ekiti) State Capital of Ekiti State from Ekiti Central Senatorial District. The study was descriptive in nature. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques are used to select fifty (50) respondents out of 152 selected sampled. The research instrument adopted a wellstructured questionnaire for the study. The data gathered was analyzed using of simple percentage. Results from the study showed that under-nutrition (wasting, stunting and underweight), inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight, obesity and mental health conditions are the prevalence of childhood malnutrition affecting labour productivity output of rural area in Ado Ekiti. Findings from the study indicates that under-nutrition in early childhood makes an individual more prone to non-communicable diseases later in life, including but not limited to diabetes and heart diseases that exhibits negative influence on labour productivity output in the communityAdo Ekiti; education gap and consequent lower skill-level of workforce substantially derail the development of countries affected by malnutrition; mortality and morbidity rates associated with malnutrition represented a direct loss in human capital and productivity of the economy as well as poor cognitive function and reduced school attainment that originate in early childhood undernutrition. Based on the findings of the study, it is therefore recommended that breast feeding mothers should be well educated on the significance of proper child breast feeding. This will go a long way to boost the immune system of the children and reduce illness, thus lead to labour productivity improvement of Ado Ekiti community’s growth and development and by extension to the country’s economy.