Effect of Urbanisation on the Nutritional Status of Primary School Children in Lagos ‐ Nigeria*

Abstract

*Paper presented at the Urban Childhood International, Interdisciplinary Conference, Norwegian Centre for Child Research, Trondhcim, Norway, 9‐12June 1997. Effect of urbanisation on Nutritional status of 250 primary school children was assessed among the children of working parents. Children involved were those who were dropped early in the morning 6 am by parents and picked up around the school premises later in the evening between 6.30‐7.00pm in the University of Lagos Staff School. Questionnaires were prepared for the parents to fill including the history of the children, time usually spent with the children from Monday through Friday, dietary information including information on whether they were breast‐fed in childhood. These information emanated from the study 193 (77%) were breast‐fed exclusively for two months while 57 (22.8%) were both breast‐fed and bottle‐fed. On feeding habits, children fed on cookies and soft drinks around the school premises with dinner at home around 8.00pm. Food served for dinner was mainly carbohydrates. No time for interaction with parents Monday through Friday. Average Anthropometric measurements obtained from these children (7‐10 years) were 29kg, 132cm for weight and height. Incidence of nutritional anaemia was very high among these children 87 (34.8%) had severe anaemia, below 9gm%, 65 (26% moderate 7‐10gm%) and 98 (39.2%) had their haemoglobin above 10gm%. This study was carried out in Lagos University Staff School. This school is owned and run by the University Authority and admits both staff and non‐staff. Lagos University Staff School is an expensive private school well subsidised by the University for the staff children.