Influence of Socio-demographic Variables on the Nutritional Status of Primary School Children in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Demographic variables have been implicated in the nutritional status of children globally and particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. There is a dearth of data on the nutritional status of school-age children that are 6-9 years old. This study examined the influence of demographic variables on the nutritional status of school-age children in a district in Abuja to ascertain their influence on the nutritional status of this group of children to proffer solution to findings that may cause harm to the children’s nutritional status. A descriptive cross-sectional study was used. Multistage sampling was used to select 320 children in three government primary schools at AMAC, Abuja. Anthropometric measure was used to assess the nutritional status of the children using their body mass index (BMI) and percentile according to the specifications of Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The summarized measurement was presented as underweight, normal weight and overweight; the relationship of demographic variables was determined with nutritional status of the children. Age, gender, school name, mothers’ education, mothers’ income, mothers’ marital status and number of children in the family positively influenced the nutritional status of the children, while class level did not influence the nutritional status of the children. There is need for further research, with a larger group of pupils in this age-group to make a concrete assertion. Targeted health education on mothers and careers of school-age children to ameliorate negative effects of demographic variables on the nutritional status of school-age children.