Anthropometric assessment of school children in Khartoum Locality, Khartoum State, Sudan – 2014/2015

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements are used to assess growth of children which is affected by different biological and environmental factors. The importance of the period after the first 1000 days of life has been identified in the attempt to restore normal growth and body functions. The objectives of this study are to assess the growth and nutritional status of school children in Khartoum locality, Khartoum State, Sudan and to verify socioeconomic status and sex as factors influencing growth of children. This is a cross-sectional school-based study including 390 children, males and females, of ages between 5-12 years (60-44 months) from private and public schools. Anthropometric measurements were taken by standardized techniques and calibration and age was calculated in months. Using WHO's Anthroplus and SPSS, BMI for age z-scores (BAZ), height for age z-scores (HAZ) and weight for age z-scores (WAZ) were calculated and descriptive and analytical statistics were generated and tested. According to the WHO reference, 3.3% of the studied children were severely thin, 6.9% were thin, 8.7% were overweight and 6.7% were obese. The children showed low mean BAZ and a similar mean HAZ compare to WHO reference. Children in public schools showed significantly lower means compared to those in the private schools in all indicators; BAZ, HAZ and WAZ. Girls showed significantly higher means compared to boys with a significant occurrence of overweight and obesity among girls especially in private schools. Weak negative correlation between HAZ and age and weak positive correlation between HAZ and BAZ were detected. Further studies and tailored interventions are recommended.