ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SLUMS IN ONITSHA METROPOLIS

ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SLUMS IN ONITSHA METROPOLIS

Abstract

Malnutrition remains a major public health concern affecting children of all ages
who may not realize their full potential for growth and mental development if left in a
state of nutritional deprivation. As a result of the increasing proliferation of unhealthy
slums in urban areas in Nigeria, this study was carried out to determine the nutritional
status of school age children residing in slums in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of
Anambra state using standard anthropometric indices, as well as ascertaining the
determinants.
A cross-sectional descriptive study of 394 children aged 6 to 12 years who were
randomly selected from public primary schools in the slums was carried out. An equal
number of age and sex-matched children randomly selected from public primary schools
in non-slum areas of Onitsha were studied as a control. The prevalence of underweight
and stunting in the slums were 11.5% and 16.8% respectively and were significantly
higher than 6.3% and 6.9% respectively in the non-slum area. (p=0.028, p=0.000
respectively). Wasting was found in 1.3% and 0.7% of children in the slums and non
slums respectively.
The environmental and socioeconomic characteristics were important
determinants of undernutrition in this study. Of significance in the slums were the type of
house with those residing in single rooms and non-permanent houses being more stunted
and underweight than those residing in better houses. (p=0.028, p=0.017 respectively).
The social class which is the major factor that determines ones environment and
accessibility to essential health services as ascertained by the ownership of certain assets
was also a significant determinant of undernutrition in this study. A significant proportion
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of the slum households belonged to the lowest quintile classes, than the non-slum
households (X2=66.69, p =0.0.000).Those from the lowest quintile classes (class 1 and 2)
in the slums were more stunted than those from the higher classes (p= 0.006). Although
not significant in the study, it was also noted that none of the children whose mothers
earned N20,000 or more in the slums were underweight or stunted.
The absence of a BCG scar was also significantly associated with underweight
and stunting in the slums (p=0.012, p=0.018 respectively) with the majority of the
undernourished being those without a scar. Gender was not a significant determinant of
undernutrition in this study even though more males (54.3%, 59.1%) than females (45.7%,
40.9%) were underweight and stunted respectively. However, male school children in the
slums were significantly shorter than males in the non-slum areas (p=0.002)
An effective nutrition programme aimed at children in urban poor areas in the
country is recommended with more strategies to financially and educationally empower
women. There is need for further research to include those not going to school as the
more malnourished children may not attend school.

ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SLUMS IN ONITSHA METROPOLIS

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