Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in Sub-Saharan Nigeria. The untoward effects of malnutrition on children cannot be overemphasized. There is need for studies to understand the dynamics of malnutrition in order to intervene appropriately. Nutritional assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programmes to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with malnutrition. Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of primary school pupils in urban and rural areas of Anambra state, compare them and find out the factors that affect their nutritional status. Methodology: A cross sectional comparative study of 365 children selected by stratified random sampling method from primary schools in both urban and rural areas of Anambra state was carried out. Their nutritional status was determined using anthropometric measures. The socioeconomic and socio demographic variables of interest were analyzed to determine their association with malnutrition in the children. Results: Three hundred and sixty five pupils participated in the study. Among the pupils 181 were in the rural area while 184 were in the urban area. The overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and overweight were 10.7%, 1.9% and 4.1% respectively. Prevalence of underweight was higher in the rural area (18.8%) than in the urban area (2.7%) and the difference was statistically significant. The prevalence of stunting was higher in the rural area (3.3%) than in the urban area (0.5%) and the difference was statistically significant. Underweight was more among the pupils whose parents had low educational level than among those whose parents had higher educational level, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Malnutrition is higher in the rural areas than the urban areas in Anambra state. Low level of education of parents predisposes children to malnutrition.
| Published in | European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 2) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14 |
| Page(s) | 34-38 |
| 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), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Nutritional Status, Primary School Pupils, Urban and Rural
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APA Style
Nwabueze Achunam Simeon, Ilika Amobi Linus, Azuike Emmanuel Chukwunonye, Nwabueze Nneka Chidimma, Obi Kamtoochukwu Mmaduneme, et al. (2015). Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in Rural and Urban Areas of Anambra State. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3(2), 34-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14
ACS Style
Nwabueze Achunam Simeon; Ilika Amobi Linus; Azuike Emmanuel Chukwunonye; Nwabueze Nneka Chidimma; Obi Kamtoochukwu Mmaduneme, et al. Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in Rural and Urban Areas of Anambra State. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2015, 3(2), 34-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14
AMA Style
Nwabueze Achunam Simeon, Ilika Amobi Linus, Azuike Emmanuel Chukwunonye, Nwabueze Nneka Chidimma, Obi Kamtoochukwu Mmaduneme, et al. Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in Rural and Urban Areas of Anambra State. Eur J Prev Med. 2015;3(2):34-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14
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author = {Nwabueze Achunam Simeon and Ilika Amobi Linus and Azuike Emmanuel Chukwunonye and Nwabueze Nneka Chidimma and Obi Kamtoochukwu Mmaduneme and Onebunne Michael Emeka and Enwonwu Kenechukwu Grace and Aniagboso Clifford Chidiebere and Ezenyeaku ChijiokeAmara and Ajator Chioma Chetachukwu and Azuike Ebele Dabeluchukwu},
title = {Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in Rural and Urban Areas of Anambra State},
journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
volume = {3},
number = {2},
pages = {34-38},
doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20150302.14},
abstract = {Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in Sub-Saharan Nigeria. The untoward effects of malnutrition on children cannot be overemphasized. There is need for studies to understand the dynamics of malnutrition in order to intervene appropriately. Nutritional assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programmes to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with malnutrition. Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of primary school pupils in urban and rural areas of Anambra state, compare them and find out the factors that affect their nutritional status. Methodology: A cross sectional comparative study of 365 children selected by stratified random sampling method from primary schools in both urban and rural areas of Anambra state was carried out. Their nutritional status was determined using anthropometric measures. The socioeconomic and socio demographic variables of interest were analyzed to determine their association with malnutrition in the children. Results: Three hundred and sixty five pupils participated in the study. Among the pupils 181 were in the rural area while 184 were in the urban area. The overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and overweight were 10.7%, 1.9% and 4.1% respectively. Prevalence of underweight was higher in the rural area (18.8%) than in the urban area (2.7%) and the difference was statistically significant. The prevalence of stunting was higher in the rural area (3.3%) than in the urban area (0.5%) and the difference was statistically significant. Underweight was more among the pupils whose parents had low educational level than among those whose parents had higher educational level, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Malnutrition is higher in the rural areas than the urban areas in Anambra state. Low level of education of parents predisposes children to malnutrition.},
year = {2015}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Primary School Pupils in Rural and Urban Areas of Anambra State AU - Nwabueze Achunam Simeon AU - Ilika Amobi Linus AU - Azuike Emmanuel Chukwunonye AU - Nwabueze Nneka Chidimma AU - Obi Kamtoochukwu Mmaduneme AU - Onebunne Michael Emeka AU - Enwonwu Kenechukwu Grace AU - Aniagboso Clifford Chidiebere AU - Ezenyeaku ChijiokeAmara AU - Ajator Chioma Chetachukwu AU - Azuike Ebele Dabeluchukwu Y1 - 2015/03/02 PY - 2015 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14 T2 - European Journal of Preventive Medicine JF - European Journal of Preventive Medicine JO - European Journal of Preventive Medicine SP - 34 EP - 38 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-8230 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150302.14 AB - Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in Sub-Saharan Nigeria. The untoward effects of malnutrition on children cannot be overemphasized. There is need for studies to understand the dynamics of malnutrition in order to intervene appropriately. Nutritional assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programmes to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with malnutrition. Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of primary school pupils in urban and rural areas of Anambra state, compare them and find out the factors that affect their nutritional status. Methodology: A cross sectional comparative study of 365 children selected by stratified random sampling method from primary schools in both urban and rural areas of Anambra state was carried out. Their nutritional status was determined using anthropometric measures. The socioeconomic and socio demographic variables of interest were analyzed to determine their association with malnutrition in the children. Results: Three hundred and sixty five pupils participated in the study. Among the pupils 181 were in the rural area while 184 were in the urban area. The overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and overweight were 10.7%, 1.9% and 4.1% respectively. Prevalence of underweight was higher in the rural area (18.8%) than in the urban area (2.7%) and the difference was statistically significant. The prevalence of stunting was higher in the rural area (3.3%) than in the urban area (0.5%) and the difference was statistically significant. Underweight was more among the pupils whose parents had low educational level than among those whose parents had higher educational level, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Malnutrition is higher in the rural areas than the urban areas in Anambra state. Low level of education of parents predisposes children to malnutrition. VL - 3 IS - 2 ER -
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