Nutritional Status, Associated factors and Knowledge among Pupils Attending Public and Private Owned Primary Schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Malnutrition, a public health and social problem, has gradually become a cause for concern in Africa and indeed Nigeria. Available report indicates that more than 30% of school children in Nigeria are malnourished. Nutritional disorders in school age children may have a significant negative effect on the academic performance and general well being of the child. This study aimed to assess and compare the nutritional status, Knowledge and associated  factors in  pupils attending  public and private primary schools in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This is a school based, comparative cross sectional study in two public and two private schools involving 300 pupils. Respondents were recruited using multi-stage sampling. Data was collected through a structured interviewer-administered adapted questionnaire, entered into Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and analyzed using WHO Epi-Info Statistical Software version 7.1. The results revealed that One- third of all the respondents were in private schools with most (26.7%) being in Primary One. Two-thirds of both sexes were in public schools. The average age of all the pupils was 9.51± 1.36 years with 59% living with their parents. The mean weight and height of pupils were 27.49 ± 3.53) kg and 126.98 ± 4.54 cm respectively, while 11.7% of the pupils were wasted. Underweight (26.5%) and stunting (55.5%) where more significant among pupils in public schools than their private counterparts with 17.0% and 14.0% respectively. Age was found to be significantly associated with wasting in respondents for private (p = 0.004) and public (p=0.001) schools. The private school pupils had better BMI than public school pupils, though not significantly different (p=0.004). Maternal socio-economic status (p = 0.004) and occupation of respondents mothers were statistically significantly associated with stunting. Most pupils had adequate knowledge of basic nutrition (98% in Private and 96% in Public), with no significant difference in the knowledge levels between the two groups. Based on the findings of this study, establishment of a school nutrition programme in the Local Government Area and improving socio-economic status of mothers with children of school age were among the recommendations proffered to help reduce the levels of underweight and stunting observed.