Nutrition status of primary school going children aged 6-12 years: a case of Kira Primary School

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to the nutrition status of school going children aged 6-12 years. The study objectives were; 1) To determine the prevalence of both over and under nutrition, 2) To determine food consumption patterns, and 3) to determine factors affecting their nutritional status. The study collected data from a sample size of 207 students at Kira primary school. Findings through MUAC indicated that the prevalence of under nutrition and over nutrition was 22% and 20% respectively. Using the physical growth indices revealed that majority 32% of the children at Kira primary school were normal, 22% were underweight/under nutrition, 20% were overweight/over nutrition, 15% were wasted and 11% were stunted. The major energy giving foods consumed by children at Kira primary school are; cereals, fats and oils, Body building were; Milk & Milk Products and egg and pulses and the protective foods consumed by children at Kira primary school included; green leafy vegetables, other vegetables and fruits but were consumed in limited quantities. The factors associated with nutritional status were; age (p=0.013) class of the child (p=0.000), number of children in the household (p=0.007) and sex of the child (p=0.043). The study concluded that both over nutrition and under nutrition exist among children at Kira primary school. The study recommended that since socio-demographic characteristics of respondents’ influence the nutritional status of children and therefore parents, guardians and school administrators should carryout differential feeding of children depending on their socio-demographic characteristics