ABSTRACT
This
study compared the nutritional status of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of
school feeding programme in public primary schools in Akwa Ibom State. A
cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used for the study and a
population of 818,588 public primary school pupils. A multi-stage sampling
technique was used to select 400 school children between 3-11 years who were
enrolled in ECE (Early child Education) to primary three (3). Eighteen (18)
public primary schools were selected from the 3 senatorial districts in the
state of which 12 schools adopted school feeding programme (SFP) and 6 did not.
Anthropometric measurement of weight and height were taken and nutritional
status was assessed using height-for-age, weight-for-age, height-for-weight and
BMI-for-age parameters. SPSS version 20.0 was used for data entry and analysis.
WHO anthro plus software was used to assess the nutritional status of pupils
and the result was interpreted using Z-score (WHO Standard). The result
revealed that more than half (58.3%) of the pupils were females
while 41.7% were males. Not all the
public primary schools in Akwa Ibom state adopted the feeding programme. Majority (60.6%) of the schools adopting the programme reported meal
serving time to be between 10-11 am. Foods from the cereal group were served 4
times weekly and foods from root/tuber group, legumes were served once a week
respectively, while meat/ fish/poultry groups were served thrice in a week. It
was also observed that fruits and vegetable group as well as snacks/beverages
were not included in the children’s meal. The result showed that while all the
benefiting children from the school feeding program had a normal weight-for-age
status, underweight (3.5%) and severe underweight (1.5%) were observed among children
not benefiting from the feeding program. The prevalence of stunting (10%) and
severe stunting (3.5%) observed among the non-beneficiaries of the feeding
program were higher than stunting (5.5%) and severe stunting (0.5%) observed
among children benefiting from the school feeding program. The prevalence of
wasting and severe wasting (4%) respectively observed among the
non-beneficiaries of the feeding program were higher than 2% obtained for
wasting among beneficiaries as none of the beneficiaries were severely wasted.
The prevalence of overweight (9%) observed among benefiting children was higher
than 6.5% observed among non-beneficiaries while obesity (0.5%) for both
categories was observed. The
weight-for-age (X2 =13.437a, P=0.00), height-for-age (X2 =
7.736a, P= 0.02) and BMI-for-age (X2 =
10.281a, P= 0.04) status of the children
benefiting from school feeding program and those that do not benefit were
significantly different. In conclusion, school feeding programme has the
potential to directly address malnutrition if it is effectively managed. Based
on the findings, it was recommended among others that Government should ensure
regular monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure that adequate and
nutritious meals are served.
OTOBONG, M (2023). Nutritional Status Of Beneficiaries And Non-Beneficiaries Of School Feeding Programme In Public Primary Schools In Akwa Ibom State. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Nov 05, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/nutritional-status-of-beneficiaries-and-non-beneficiaries-of-school-feeding-programme-in-public-primary-schools-in-akwa-ibom-state-7-2
MONDAY, OTOBONG. "Nutritional Status Of Beneficiaries And Non-Beneficiaries Of School Feeding Programme In Public Primary Schools In Akwa Ibom State" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 22 Mar. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/nutritional-status-of-beneficiaries-and-non-beneficiaries-of-school-feeding-programme-in-public-primary-schools-in-akwa-ibom-state-7-2. Accessed 05 Nov. 2024.
MONDAY, OTOBONG. "Nutritional Status Of Beneficiaries And Non-Beneficiaries Of School Feeding Programme In Public Primary Schools In Akwa Ibom State". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 22 Mar. 2023. Web. 05 Nov. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/nutritional-status-of-beneficiaries-and-non-beneficiaries-of-school-feeding-programme-in-public-primary-schools-in-akwa-ibom-state-7-2 >.
MONDAY, OTOBONG. "Nutritional Status Of Beneficiaries And Non-Beneficiaries Of School Feeding Programme In Public Primary Schools In Akwa Ibom State" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2023). Accessed 05 Nov. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/nutritional-status-of-beneficiaries-and-non-beneficiaries-of-school-feeding-programme-in-public-primary-schools-in-akwa-ibom-state-7-2