Determination of the nutritional status of a population of school-age children in Anambra State using anthropometric measurements

Abstract

Background: Nutrition assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programmes to reduce the morbidity and mortality that are associated with malnutrition.
Objective: This study is aimed at determining the nutritional status of a population of school-age children in Anambra State using anthropometric measurements.
Methodology: A sample size of 1288 school children in Anambra State was used for the study. The data were organized and tested with inferential statistics of t-Test.
Results: The results showed that school children aged 6–11years in the urban areas had lower BMI compared to those in the rural areas. The BMI of school children aged 6-11years in both urban and rural locations were higher than those of WHO/NCHS reference BMI for their ages.
Conclusion: There is a significant difference in the nutritional status of school children in Anambra state based on their location and gender. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that school health services be re-activated in Anambra State.

Keywords: Anthropometric variables, growth monitoring, location, malnutrition, socioeconomic class