Hair zinc status and its correlation with height indicator in pre-school and school children from a mixed income, low density (mild) community in southern Ghana

Abstract

Objectives: To determine and assess the chronic zinc nutritional status of pre-school and school children living in a mixed-income, low-density (mild) community in southern Ghana and determine if zinc deficiency was implicated in growth stunting of the children. Design: Prospective/comparative study. Setting: A cluster of schools, made up of a nursery, two primary schools and two Junior Secondary School pupils living in Kwabenya, a village recently transformed into an urban community. Subjects: Three hundred and fourty four pupils, aged two and half to eighteen years. Main outcome measures: Levels of hair zinc were determined in three hundred and fourty four pupils, aged two and half to eighteen years, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Age was assessed from birth baptismal certificates while height was determined using stainless steel stadiometer. The socio-economic status of the children was also assessed using pretested, weighted and structured questionnaires. Results: The chronic zinc nutritional status was generally good. Out of 344 pupils, 72% (248/344) had adequate status, while 11% were zinc deficient and 9.5% marginally deficient. Excess zinc status was found in 7.5% (26/344) of the children. It appears that growth stunting was not associated with zinc deficiency neither was zinc status affected by the socio-economic status of the children's families. Conclusion: Nutritional education should be mounted to families of children with deficient, marginally-deficient and excess zinc status and to encourage those with adequate status to maintain their zinc status.