NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN BENUE STATE, AND ASSOCIATED SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional status of pupils in Benue State, and to identify the associated
sociodemographic factors. cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Three hundred and seventy-three (373) Pupils
in public primary schools aged 5-12 years with their parents/guardians participated in the study. Participants were
selected using systematic random sampling with table of random numbers over a 2-month period. Anthropometric
measurements of body weight and height were taken using a digital weighing scale and a measuring tape, respectively.
A valid questionnaire was used to collect data on the sociodemographic characteristics of the parents. Height-for-age z
scores (HAZ), weight-for-age z scores (WAZ) and body mass index-for-age z scores (BAZ) were computed using
WHO Anthro plus software with reference to WHO child growth standards. The HAZ, WAZ and BAZ were expressed
as means and standard deviations. Frequency and percentages were used to determine the nutritional status, while the
variance in the mean scores between or among the categories of the sociodemographic factors were analysed using t-
test and one-way ANOVA, respectively. A significant association between nutritional status and a particular
sociodemographic factor was declared if p < .05.
The mean age of the pupils was 8.7 ± 5.3 years, while that of parents/guardians was 36.7 ± 4.7 years. Two hundred and
fifty-three (67.8%) children were stunted, 219 (58.7%) were underweight and 175 (46.9%) were wasted. Twenty-four
(6.4%) children were overweight, and obesity was observed in 21 (5.6%) children. The nutritional status of the pupils
was found to be significantly associated with parents’ level of education (F (3) = 116.3, p < .001), parental occupation
(F (3) = 91.5, p < .001), family size (F (2) = 55.7, p < .001), and geographical location (t (371) = -12.9, p < .001).
The nutritional status of primary school children in Benue State was found to be poor. Some sociodemographic factors
including low level of parents’ education, predominant low-earning jobs, large family size and rural locations were
contributory factors. This situation could be addressed by sustaining and improving on the federal government’s home-
grown feeding programme for public primary schools in the State.