Main Article Content
Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Rural School Age Children in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the dietary habits and nutritional status of rural school age children in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A total of 360 school children aged 5 – 14 years (194 males and 166 females) were selected through a multi stage random sampling procedure. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on children’s family characteristics, parents’ socio-economic characteristics; and their dietary habits. The heights and weights of the children were measured using approved methods. Age was accessed using documentary evidences provided by parents. The WHO reference body mass index (BMI)-for-age was used to classify the children. Data obtain were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis.
Results: The children were from predominantly farming communities and consumed highly monotonous diets. 24-hour dietary recall showed that majority of the respondents ate cassava-baseddiets for breakfast and dinner quite often. Less than 2.0% of the respondents consumed chicken, egg and meat. Although most of the children reported that they consumed fruits, 24hour dietary recall showed that <5% of them consumed any of the fruits recorded. Prevalence of anaemia was 70%. The mean BMI ranged from 14.77 – 17.98 kg/m2 for boys and 14.14 – 17.98 kg/m2 for girls and these were below the WHO reference. Obesity was not detected among the children; however the prevalence of overweight, underweight and thinness were 4.7%, 23.3% and 6.1%. Prevalence of mild to severe stunting was 42.5%. Stunting was significantly (p<0.05) higher among 10-14year old children (56.1%) than 5-9 year olds (34.6%).
Conclusion: There is urgent need for nutrition intervention targeted at rural school age children inEbonyi State.
Keywords: School age children, dietary habits, hemoglobin levels, stunting, overweight, underweight, thinness, rural communities
Materials and Methods: A total of 360 school children aged 5 – 14 years (194 males and 166 females) were selected through a multi stage random sampling procedure. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on children’s family characteristics, parents’ socio-economic characteristics; and their dietary habits. The heights and weights of the children were measured using approved methods. Age was accessed using documentary evidences provided by parents. The WHO reference body mass index (BMI)-for-age was used to classify the children. Data obtain were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis.
Results: The children were from predominantly farming communities and consumed highly monotonous diets. 24-hour dietary recall showed that majority of the respondents ate cassava-baseddiets for breakfast and dinner quite often. Less than 2.0% of the respondents consumed chicken, egg and meat. Although most of the children reported that they consumed fruits, 24hour dietary recall showed that <5% of them consumed any of the fruits recorded. Prevalence of anaemia was 70%. The mean BMI ranged from 14.77 – 17.98 kg/m2 for boys and 14.14 – 17.98 kg/m2 for girls and these were below the WHO reference. Obesity was not detected among the children; however the prevalence of overweight, underweight and thinness were 4.7%, 23.3% and 6.1%. Prevalence of mild to severe stunting was 42.5%. Stunting was significantly (p<0.05) higher among 10-14year old children (56.1%) than 5-9 year olds (34.6%).
Conclusion: There is urgent need for nutrition intervention targeted at rural school age children inEbonyi State.
Keywords: School age children, dietary habits, hemoglobin levels, stunting, overweight, underweight, thinness, rural communities
