Summaryobjective To estimate the prevalence of chronic health and nutritional conditions of schoolchildren in Ethiopia.methods Cross-sectional survey in schools in each region randomly selected in proportion to size, then a random sample of 50-68 children in grades 3 and 4 in each school. Children were examined for signs of micronutrient deficiencies and chronic infections; weighed and measured; provided a faecal sample to diagnose intestinal parasitic infections; and were interviewed about their recent diet and hygiene practices.results A total of 7572 children were studied in 142 schools in all 11 regions of Ethiopia. Nearly 17% of children were orphans. The prevalence of stunting was 22.3% and 23.1% of children were thin for age, but these may be underestimates as there was evidence that age may have been estimated based on stature when children enrol in school. Just under 10% of children were anaemic when altitude was accounted for. The overall prevalence of trachoma was 13% and children who washed their face before school were at lower risk of trachoma than children who had not. Children who reported that they had eaten fruits or vegetables the day before also had a lower risk of xerophthalmia than children who had not. Only 30% of children were infected with intestinal worms.conclusions Trachoma is a problem but anaemia and intestinal worms are relatively uncommon in Ethiopian schoolchildren. These data provide a basis for developing a school health policy and programmes.

Summaryobjectives To undertake a case-control analysis of the health, nutrition and caring practices of orphans enrolled in primary schools in Ethiopia.methods Pupils of both sexes aged 7-17 who were randomly selected from Grades 3 and 4 of primary school during a national survey of schoolchildren in Ethiopia and who were classified as an orphan were matched by age, sex and school with non-orphans. Logistic regression was used to compare children in terms of indicators of anthropometric and nutritional status, chronic infections, personal hygiene, diet, caring practices and self-reported sensory disability.results Of the 7752 children in the national survey, 1283 (16.9%) had lost either both parents or one parent. Of these orphans, 1048 were uniquely pair matched for the case-control analysis. About 60% of orphans had lost their father, and about 20% each had lost their mother or both parents. Orphans had better anthropometric measurements and indices than non-orphans, although the differences were small, and they were less likely to have a goitre (OR = 0.68, P = 0.011). There were no differences in the odds of infections. Orphans were less likely than non-orphans to have eaten breakfast or fruit and vegetables on the previous day and were more likely to report having trouble seeing and hearing.conclusion Orphans were slight better nourished than non-orphans, but this could have been a result of asystematic bias in underestimating the age of orphans. The indicators suggested that orphans were less well cared for than non-orphans, but the differences were small.

In undernourished populations, the application of the WHO (2007) references may result in differences in the prevalence of stunting for each sex compared with results shown when the NCHS references are used as well as a higher estimated prevalence of thinness than of wasting. An awareness of these differences is important for comparative studies or the evaluation of programs. For school-age children and adolescents across all ranges of anthropometric status, the same growth references should be applied when such studies are undertaken.