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Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria

Received: 13 April 2021     Accepted: 29 April 2021     Published: 8 May 2021
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Abstract

Malnutrition remains a major problem affecting millions of children in Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status among primary school pupils in Olorunda Local government of Osogbo metropolis in South Western Nigeria. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to respondents in11schools randomly selected. A cross sectional study design was used and multi-stage sampling technique was utilized in selecting participants for the study. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. A total of 487 pupils were interviewed and their age range was 5–16years with a mean age of 8 years. More females (53.6%) than males (46.4%) were interviewed. Most fathers were skilled workers and while most mothers were in the unskilled labor force. Above half (50.2%) of the study population were found to have poor nutritional history based on the 24 hour dietary recall. Also using WHO standard measurements of z score with a standard deviation of <-2, which is an indication of moderate undernourished children, 65.7% were stunted with low height for age, and 74.5% were underweight with low weight for age. More pupils were stunted in the higher classes compared to pupils in the lower classes. The study concluded that despite the various intervention programmes of non-Governmental and Governmental organizations, significant percentage of Nigerian primary school children still have poor nutritional status.

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11
Page(s) 88-93
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Malnutrition, Assessment, Pupils, School, Primary

References
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[2] Asmare, B., Taddele, M., Berihun, S. et al. Nutritional status and correlation with academic performance among primary school children, northwest Ethiopia. BMC Res Notes 11, 805 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3909-1.
[3] Moseley, W. G. & Battersby, J. 2020. The Vulnerability and Resilience of African Food Systems, Food Security and Nutrition in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. African Studies Review, 63 (3).
[4] World Health Organization. WHO growth standards for children 5–19years. 2007. Linkhttp://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/.
[5] Daniel Goon, Abel Toriola, Brandon Shaw et al. Anthropometrically determined nutritional status of urban primary school children in Makurdi, Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2011: 11: 769.
[6] UNICEF Global nutrition reports. Press releases. 2018. http:www.UNICEF.org.pres sreleases.2018global-n.
[7] Kyle Casadei; John Kiel. Anthropometric Measurement. 2020. University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville.
[8] Kassie, G. W., Workie, D. L. Determinants of under-nutrition among children underfive years of ageing Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 20, 399 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08539-2.
[9] Al-Ameri RJK, Abdalhamid WG (2018) Nutritional Assessment of Schools’ Children of Six Years Oldin Al-Dora Family Medical Center in Baghdad/Iraq. Fam Med Med Sci Res 7: (223) 4, 5. doi: 10.4172/2327-4972.1000223.
[10] Olaf M, Michael K (2005) Malnutrition and health in developing countries; Canadian medical Association Journal A173. Link: https://bit.ly/3ia2ZlB.
[11] IloriIniabasi Udoh, Ikobah Joanah Moses. A Comparison of Three Age-based Formulae of Estimating Weight in Nigerian Children. American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine. 2015; 3 (2): 24-27. doi: 10.12691/ajmsm-3-2-4.
[12] WHO/UNICEF/Internationl Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorder. Progress towards the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (DD). Geneva, World Health Organization. 1999 (document WHO/NHD/99.4).
[13] Ferreira, H. d. S. Anthropometric assessment of children’s nutritional status: a new approach based on an adaptation of Water low’s classification. BMC Pediatr 20, 65 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-1940-6.
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[15] Abidoye RO, Akande PA. (2000) Nutritional status of public primary school children: a comparison between an upland and riverine area of Ojo LGA, Lagos State Nigeria Nutrition and health journal. 2000, 14 (4): 225-40 doi: 10.1177/026010600001400404.
[16] Mark Smulder, Mohamed AW-Dabir, Kate Dunn, Rene Verduijn. Food security and nutrition in the southern and eastern RIM of theme diterraneanbasin. 2013.
[17] Anonymous, 2017, The Family Effect on Academic Performance in School. A Case Study of selected Schools in Kabale District, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/384998.
[18] Galgamuwa, L. S., Iddawela, D., Dharmaratne, S. D. et al. Nutritional status and correlated socio-economic factors among preschool and school children in plantation communities, Sri Lanka. BMC Public Health 17, 377 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4311.
[19] Lahiru Sandaruwan Galgamuwa, DevikaIddawela, Samath D Dharmaratne, GLS Galgamuwa. Nutritional status and correlated socio-economic factors among preschool and school children in plantation communities, Sri Lanka 2017. 17 (1): 377. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4311-y.
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    Samson Ayo Deji, Oluremi Olayinka Solomon, Adebowale Femi Akinwumi, Paul Oladapo Ajayi, Olusola Olugbenga Odu. (2021). Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria. Central African Journal of Public Health, 7(3), 88-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11

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    ACS Style

    Samson Ayo Deji; Oluremi Olayinka Solomon; Adebowale Femi Akinwumi; Paul Oladapo Ajayi; Olusola Olugbenga Odu. Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2021, 7(3), 88-93. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11

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    AMA Style

    Samson Ayo Deji, Oluremi Olayinka Solomon, Adebowale Femi Akinwumi, Paul Oladapo Ajayi, Olusola Olugbenga Odu. Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2021;7(3):88-93. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11,
      author = {Samson Ayo Deji and Oluremi Olayinka Solomon and Adebowale Femi Akinwumi and Paul Oladapo Ajayi and Olusola Olugbenga Odu},
      title = {Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {88-93},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20210703.11},
      abstract = {Malnutrition remains a major problem affecting millions of children in Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status among primary school pupils in Olorunda Local government of Osogbo metropolis in South Western Nigeria. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to respondents in11schools randomly selected. A cross sectional study design was used and multi-stage sampling technique was utilized in selecting participants for the study. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. A total of 487 pupils were interviewed and their age range was 5–16years with a mean age of 8 years. More females (53.6%) than males (46.4%) were interviewed. Most fathers were skilled workers and while most mothers were in the unskilled labor force. Above half (50.2%) of the study population were found to have poor nutritional history based on the 24 hour dietary recall. Also using WHO standard measurements of z score with a standard deviation of <-2, which is an indication of moderate undernourished children, 65.7% were stunted with low height for age, and 74.5% were underweight with low weight for age. More pupils were stunted in the higher classes compared to pupils in the lower classes. The study concluded that despite the various intervention programmes of non-Governmental and Governmental organizations, significant percentage of Nigerian primary school children still have poor nutritional status.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria
    AU  - Samson Ayo Deji
    AU  - Oluremi Olayinka Solomon
    AU  - Adebowale Femi Akinwumi
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    AB  - Malnutrition remains a major problem affecting millions of children in Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status among primary school pupils in Olorunda Local government of Osogbo metropolis in South Western Nigeria. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to respondents in11schools randomly selected. A cross sectional study design was used and multi-stage sampling technique was utilized in selecting participants for the study. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. A total of 487 pupils were interviewed and their age range was 5–16years with a mean age of 8 years. More females (53.6%) than males (46.4%) were interviewed. Most fathers were skilled workers and while most mothers were in the unskilled labor force. Above half (50.2%) of the study population were found to have poor nutritional history based on the 24 hour dietary recall. Also using WHO standard measurements of z score with a standard deviation of <-2, which is an indication of moderate undernourished children, 65.7% were stunted with low height for age, and 74.5% were underweight with low weight for age. More pupils were stunted in the higher classes compared to pupils in the lower classes. The study concluded that despite the various intervention programmes of non-Governmental and Governmental organizations, significant percentage of Nigerian primary school children still have poor nutritional status.
    VL  - 7
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Author Information
  • Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

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