Nutritional status of Yemeni schoolchildren in Al-Mahweet Governorate

Abstract

The nutritional status of 948 children selected randomly from Al-Mahweet Governorate schools was investigated. Age range was 5-18 years with a mean of 10.6 ± 2.8 years. Among the children, 3.4% had depleted iron and 43.4% had below average skin-fold thickness. Approximately half of the children were either stunted or chronically underweight and 1 child in 20 was underfed. Depleted fat stores affected two-fifths of the children and approximately one-fifth were anaemic. Urban residents scored significantly higher on nutritional parameters than rural children. Serum ferritin levels were significantly greater among males than females whereas mean height-for-age, weight-for-age and skin-fold thickness were lower.