ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to determine and compare the nutritional status of school age children (6-10 years) attending urban and rural primary schools in Kuje Area Council of Abuja. The schools were stratified into urban and rural locations, and studied schools were selected by simple random sampling. A well structured, validated and pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit information on socioeconomic, anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary status of the pupils. Information obtained on each pupil was entered into a pre-designed proforma. The weight and height were recorded for each pupil, and converted to nutritional indices (weight-for-age, weight-for-height, height-for-age) using CDC/WHO Epi Info 2000 software. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15. A total of 480 pupils comprising 240 children (50%) from rural and urban locations respectively. Ten percent (10%) of the sample was used for biochemical analysis. Nutrient intake was determined using weighed food intake. Overall prevalence rates ofstunting, wasting and underweight were 8.8%, 11.0% and 8.3% respectively. In the rural area these were 8.8%, 10.0% and 11.3%, while in the urban they were 8.8%, 12.1% and 5.4% respectively. Using composite index of anthropometric failure, a total of 27.3% of the children studied were in a state of anthropometric failure. In all the age categories, the weight and height of urban and rural school children who participated in this study were lower than the median values ofNCHS reference. Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was observed as a public health problem among the school children studied. Fifteen (14.6%) of the children were vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A deficiency was significantly (P<0.05) higher in urban children (71.4%) than rural children (28.6%). A high prevalence of iron deficiency (defined as low serum ferritin levels <15pg/l) was also observed. Over half (64.6%) of the school children were iron deficient. This prevalence was high in rural (54.8) than in urban children (45.2%). Though none of the anthropometric parameters correlated significantly with biochemical variables, weight of the children strongly and positively influenced (P<0.01) body mass index (BMI), weight for age, height for age and weight for height. Height of the children also correlated strongly and significantly (P<0.01) with mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and height for age. Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) was found to positively influence (P<0.01) body mass index weight for age and weight for height. Caloric intake was found to significantly influence weight of child (P<0.01) and height of child (P<0.05) positively. Thirty-two (32) clinical cases were identified during the study. These included: vascularization of the cornea (6.3%), opaquecity of the cornea (3.1%), presence of skin lesions (12.5%), bleeding gum/dental caries (50%) and wasting (28.1%). From the various indicators anthropometric, biochemical and clinical indicators used to assess the nutritional status of the children, it can was concluded that malnutrition posses a great challenge to the health and well being of the children. Government should put in more effort in improving the nutritional status of school age children by incorporating them into existing school feeding program. Prevention of malnutrition should be given a high priority in the implementation of the ongoing primary healthcare programmes with particular attention to the rural population.