Anthropometric Indices of Primary School Children from Different Socio-Economic Classes in Owerri Municipal

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess anthropometric measurement and growth pattern of primary school children from different socio-economic class in Owerri municipal. A total of three hundred and two (302) respondents comprising 132 males and 170 females from the selected primary school were used. A stratified multistage sampling technique was thus use to select one private school and one public school. A well structured and validated questionnaire was used to obtain the subject parents occupation, highest educational level and income level. Also, their weight and height were measured. Data collected were analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 13, chi-square, frequency, percentage and standard deviation was determined. The result showed that 40.1% of the subjects were stunted, 25.2% were underweight and 40.1% were wasted. It was also discovered that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the rate of stunting among the growth pattern of pupils based on different educational status of the parents, although stunting occurred more (48.9%) among pupils whose parents had only primary education. Children their parents had tertiary education also had high record of stunting (42.7%) while those that their parents had no formal education had recorded the least percentage of stunting (23.1%). However, there were significant differences (p<0.05) for wasting and underweight among the pupils whose parents' educational background differed. Parents with no formal education has a lowest proportion of children with wasting (23.1%) than all other groups, while parents with tertiary education have the highest proportion of children with wasting (43.9%) and pupils whose parents had only primary education recorded the most underweight (33.3%). The occupation of parents significantly (p<0.05) affected the anthropometric indices of weight for age and weight for height of their children. Higher rates of stunting 45.8% and 51.4% were respectively observed among the children of civil servants and traders than farmers (23.1%) and others (32.5%). Also, wasting was highest among children of civil servants (50.4%), followed by children of farmers (38.5%) and then, children of traders (37.1%). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the rate of stunting of growth pattern of pupils base on different income level of parents, although pupils whose parents income <20,000 who were stunted where more than other groups (43.3%). It was concluded that nutrition education should be encouraged among the mothers to bring awareness of the benefits of hygiene conditions, nutrition knowledge as well as good child feeding practices.