Dietary Diversity and Determinants of Nutritional Status of Primary School Children in Anambra State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Proper nutrition accomplished through consumption of diverse foods is very vital as it provides the foundation for optimum health, strength, cognitive development and academic achievement, especially during the school age. Aim: this study aimed at assessing dietary diversity and determinants of nutritional status of primary school children in Anambra State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving primary school children from two selected local government areas (one urban and one rural) of Anambra State was carried out over a 3-month period. A total of 637 participants comprising 297 males and 340 females were selected using multistage sampling technique. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain needed information from the pupils and their parents/guardians. Anthropometric parameters such as height and weight were measured using a digital scale and a measuring tape. Nutritional status was determined using the WHO AnthroPlus version 1.0.4 and data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: Findings revealed that 69.54% of study participants had medium dietary diversity score and the least consumed food groups were animal products (7.2%). The results further showed that 146 pupils (22.92%) had at least one form of malnutrition with the prevalence of wasting, stunting, overweight and obesity being 6.9%, 5.5%, 5.3% and 5.2%, respectively. Findings also suggested that male gender and large family size predicted the likelihood of stunting; while urban residence, attending private school, belonging to high socio-economic class increased the likelihood of overweight and obesity. Conclusion: The present study showed that a high percentage of the population had normal nutritional status while only a small proportion was stunted, wasted, overweight or obese. Factors such as place of residence, family size, birth order, type of school, parental educational level and socio-economic status had significant impact on nutritional status.