The Implication of Socio Economic Status on the Anthropometric and Dietary Intake of School Age Children in Selected Schools in Ogun State

Abstract

This study assessed the anthropometric indices and dietary intake of rural and urban school age children in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ogun state. A multistage sampling technique was used to select one thousand one hundred and thirty two school age children from the three senatorial districts. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-economic characteristics as well as anthropometric measurements (weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference) were taken using standard anthropometric procedures and nutrients intake estimated from the 24-hr dietary recall information. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviations, correlation, T-test and Chi-Square. Results showed that 36.5% of the respondent families earned less than two hundred thousand naira annually. Also, 43.0% and 62.0% of the mothers had secondary and tertiary education respectively. WASH practices showed that 61.1% of the respondents did not have a place for hand washing and 55.6% used dirty water for washing their hands. The mean weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference of the children were 25.8kg, 1.30m, and 187.29cm respectively. Prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight and overweight were 2.7, 20.6, 18.5 and 6.1% respectively, with significant gender (p=0.000) and sector (p=0.003) differences. Dietary intake showed that energy intake was above 60% RDA for both sexes and in the LGAs while protein and fat intake for females in urban LGA was above 80% RDA except for some micronutrients that were below 50% RDA (Vit A-42.5% RDA, Calcium -45% RDA and Iron -48.9% RDA). Chi-square showed a significant association between maternal education and stunting (p=0.014), family income and stunting (p=0.038) and wasting (p=0.003) while correlation shows a significant relationship between micronutrients and economic status of the family because stunting was related to vitamin A (p= -0.321) and iron (p= -0.120). This study concluded that a significant relationship exists between socio economic status and nutritional status. Hence, the study recommended a national policy for improved sanitation, school feeding programme and combining such a policy with better access to basic social services including education and health care.