Assessment of Nutritional Status of School Children iIn Eha-Amufu Town In Enugu State, Nigeria.

*Chukwuemeka E.N. and Ojike-Chijioke E.P.
Department of Home Economics, Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu Enugu State Nigeria

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Background: Poor nutrition is one of the leading causes of malnutrition worldwide. A proper assessment of the nutritional status of children is necessary for the development of prevention and intervention plan for malnutrition in the population.
Objectives: The study determined the socio-demographic characteristics, breakfast pattern and nutritional status of the children in Eha-Amufu town in Enugu state, Nigeria.
Methodology: A total of 597 primary school children were randomly selected using the class registers. A structured pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics of the school children. Anthropometric status was assessed with weight and height measurements using standard procedures and compared with recommended standards. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 15.0. The result was presented using descriptive statistics.
Results: Result shows that the proportion of male to female children was 52.1% to 47.9%. Majority of the children came from monogamous families (60.5%) and those that live with their parents were (41.7%). The percentage of fathers that were artisans were 60.6% while (35.8%) of mothers are traders, 80.9% of the children had their breakfast on the day of data collection, 45.7% consumed breakfast on daily basis while 12.9% usually eat their breakfast for only one or two times a week. The proportion of wasting, stunting and underweight among the school children were 18.8%, 18.3% and 22. 3% respectively.
Conclusion: This study depicted high prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight among school children thus, undernutrition exists among school children in the Eha-Amufu Town.