Description
ABSTRACT
Nutritional assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programmes to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with under-nutrition. Growth monitoring is an important standard component of the child health service programme, used to assess the growth pattern and nutritional status of school children. This study was carried out to determine the nutritional status, growth and body mass index of school children aged 3 17 years using vertical anthropometric measurements in Anambra state. In line with the purpose of the study, sixteen research questions and six research hypotheses were formulated. Pertinent and related literatures on the nutritional status using anthropometric measurement were reviewed. The population of the study include all school children in the nursery, primary and secondary schools in approved public schools in Anambra state. The schools were categorized into nursery, primary, junior and senior secondary schools in urban and rural locations and studied schools were selected by simple random sampling. The classes were also selected through simple random sampling. In each class selected, a stream of class was selected and all the pupils were measured. The weight and height were recorded for each pupil, and converted to nutritional indices of body mass index, weight for age, weight for height and height for age. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages for research question while tTest was used for the hypotheses. The mean indicators of nutritional status for school children were found to be within normal range. Children in urban location had higher weight and height than their rural counterparts. Female children indicated higher BMI than their male counterparts. The weight, height and BMI of the children of the study were greater than that of WHO/NCHS recommended standard for their age and gender. This therefore calls for health education of parents and care givers on the need for adequate nutrition and elimination of some of the factors that contribute to low dietary intake especially in the rural areas. There is also need for growth monitoring of school children in order to identify and reduce the risk of inadequate nutrition.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES
TITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL PAGE ii
CERTIFICATION PAGE iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS v
ABSTRACT vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS viii
LIST OF TABLES xi
LIST OF FIGURES xiii
LIST OF APPENDICES xv
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Background to the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 8
Purpose of the Study 10
Significance of the Study 13
Scope of the Study 14
Research Questions 15
Hypotheses 17
CHAPTER TWO:REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 19
Nutritional Status 19
Normal Human Growth 20
Aetiology of Abnormal Growth Curves 35
Body Mass Index BMI 38
Anthropometry 40
WHO/NCHS recommended Growth Standards 47
Theoretical Framework 49
Banduras Social Cognitive Theory48
Empirical Studies 53
Summary of Literature Review 75
CHAPTER THREE: METHOD 80
ResearchDesign 81
Area of the Study 81
Population of the Study 82
Sample and Sampling Technique83
Instrument for Data Collection85
Validation of Instrument 85
Reliability of Instrument 86
Method of Data Collection 87
Method of Data Analysis 88
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS 90
Summary of Results 118
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS 123
Discussions 123
Conclusions 135
Implications of the Study 136
Recommendations 139
Limitations of the Study 140
Suggestions for Further Research 141
REFERENCES 142
APPENDICES 157
APPENDICES
Appendix A
BMIforage Boys 5 to 19 years z scores 157
Appendix B
BMIforage z scores, 5 to 19 years Boys 158
Appendix C
BMIforage z scores, 5 to 19 years Boys 159
Appendix D
BMIforage z scores, 5 to 19 years Boys 160
Appendix E
BMIforage Girls 5 to 19 years z scores 161
Appendix F
BMIforage z scores, 5 to 19 years Girls 162
Appendix G
BMIforage z scores, 5 to 19 years Girls 163
Appendix H
BMIforage z scores, 5 to 19 years Girls 164
Appendix I
Weightforage Boys 2 to 5 years z scores 165
Appendix J
Heightforage Boys 2 to 5 years z scores 166
Appendix K
Weightforheight Boys 2 to 5 years z scores 167
Appendix L
Arm circumferenceforage boys 3 months to 5 years percentiles 168
Appendix M
Weightforage Girls 2 to 5 years z scores 169
Appendix N
Weightforage Girls 2 to 5 years z scores 170
Appendix O
Weightforage Girls 2 to 5 years z scores 171
Appendix P
Arm circumferenceforage girls 3 months to 5 years percentiles 172
Appendix Q
Sampled nursery schools/classes used for the study 35 years 173
Appendix R
Sampled primary schools/classes used for the study 611 years 174
Appendix S
Sampled secondary schools/classes used for the study 1217 years 175
Appendix T
Nutritional Assessment tool anthropometry 176
Appendix U
Body Mass Index BMI children 177
Appendix V
Permission to collect data 178
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