Factors Associated with the Nutritional Status of Schoolchildren in the Main City of Benin Republic, Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in July 2016. It involved data collection regarding food and nutritional knowledge, nutritional habits and practices, physical activity level and health status which were obtained using survey research. The study took place in four schools from the Friendly School of Nutrition Initiative (FNSI) in Cotonou and focused on schoolchildren aged from eight to eleven (n = 182). Anthropometric data including weight and height were collected, BMI indices weight-for age and height-for-age were calculated, making it thereby possible to assess the nutritional status of the schoolchildren. Factors associated with malnutrition were determined by logistic regression (p < 0.05).