Iron Deficiency Negatively Affects Nutritional Status and Anthropometric Indices of Primary School Pupils in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

Anozie Ao,Nwachukwu Nn

doi:10.4172/2155-9600.1000214

Abstract

A study on the nutritional status and anthropometric indices of primary school pupils in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State was evaluated. Their total iron, total iron binding capacity, haemoglobin, and ferritin levels were determined using spectrophotometric method, anthropometric indices was studied using the standardized method of WHO and UNICEF. The study subjects were selected by random sampling from four (4) different Schools and a total of two hundred (200) pupils, from primary one (Elementary 1) to primary three (Elementary 3) The characteristics of the pupils were tested using the student’s t-test and ANOVA. Correlation between variables was determined by way of Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results obtained showed that there was significant difference between age and the nutritional status of primary school pupils of Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A; A significant difference between gender and the nutritional status of same pupils. Inadequate nutritional status of these pupils was found to be attributable to limited or low consumption of high quality food as a result of the socio-economic/ sociodemographic status of their parents

Highlights

Nutrition is the sum total of the processes involved in taking nutrients, assimilating and/or utilizing them in the body for good health of an individual
The blood samples used for the determination of iron (total iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC)) and Haemoglobin (Hb) were collected using a 5ml syringe and a 23G needle, 5 ml of blood was collected from a single vein of each pupil, 1ml was put into an EDTA
The findings in this study showed that there was a significant difference between age and the nutritional status of the primary school pupils in Ohaji/Egbema local government area (LGA), and a significant difference between gender and the nutritional status of same pupils

Summary

Introduction

Nutrition is the sum total of the processes involved in taking nutrients, assimilating and/or utilizing them in the body for good health of an individual. Nutrients are chemical components of food that need to be absorbed properly in the body for optimal utilization [1]. There are essential and non-essential nutrients, all of which are harnessed by the body’s metabolic system for the provision of energy and tissue maintenance. Macronutrients consist of the bulk of the diet which supplies the energy and the essential nutrients for body growth, maintenance and activity. It includes carbohydrate, fats including essential fatty acids, proteins, macro minerals and water

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Results

Conclusion