Knowledge and Perceptions on the Effects of Climate Change on Food Security among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Background Climate change - induced food insecurity is a global crisis disproportionately affecting children under five years old, contributing to approximately 3.1 million child deaths annually due to undernutrition. Methods Employing a cross-sectional descriptive design, the study involved caregivers of under-five children and was guided by three specific objectives, three research questions, and one hypothesis. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 258 participants. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 23 and Microsoft Excel, focusing on frequencies and percentages. Results The study achieved a 100% response rate with all 258 copies of the questionnaire completed. The majority of respondents were females (50.8%), with most (70.2%) aged between 18 and 27 years. Most respondents (38.0%) had secondary education as their highest qualification, and a majority (71.7%) were single. Approximately 48.8% had good knowledge of climate change, and 38.4% had good knowledge of food security. Over half (65.9%) perceived the impact of climate change on food security for children under five positively. There was a statistically significant association between respondents' knowledge of climate change and their perceptions of its impact (χ ²  = 4.793, df = 2, p-value < 0.005). Conclusion This study highlights the critical role of caregivers’ knowledge and perceptions in addressing the impact of climate change on food security. It also shows the importance of awareness in shaping perceptions and potentially influencing actions to mitigate climate-related food insecurity.