A comparative study on anthropometric indices of women of reproductive age in urban and rural settings in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Urban and rural dwellers are known to differ traditionally in socioeconomic and cultural characteristics, which may affect nutritional status. Women of reproductive age (WRA) are one of the nutritionally vulnerable groups. This study compared the anthropometric indices of WRA in urban and rural settings in Kano State to provide information that could guide policy, programmes and interventions targeted at the WRA. A total of 240 WRA (15 to 49 years) from 8 (4 each of rural and urban) randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) participated in a cross-sectional descriptive community-based study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics. Anthropometric indices, which included height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were measured. Associations were determine statistically using Chi-square and /or Fisher’s exact and independent sample t - tests. Results showed that most of the study participants were from the age ranges 15-22 years (31.2%) with a mean age of 30.4±10.1, married (57.5%), had completed secondary school education (46.7%), self-employed (75.8%) and earned less than 18,000 naira (86.2%). Mean anthropometric indices were significantly higher in urban compared to rural participants; weight (P = 0.005), WC (P = 0.004), HC (P = 0.001), MUAC (P = 0.041) and WHtR (P = 0.002). In conclusion, it was observed that that place of settlement had impact on the anthropometric characteristics among the WRA in Kano State.