Nutritional Status among School Girls in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between anthropometric indices of school girls and their regular nutritional dietary intake. Methods: This research adopted a cross-sectional community- based study to assess school girls of age 5-10yrs using well-structured questionnaires, weight scale, meter rule and WHO classification etc to obtain the required parameters for this study in Ogbia LGA. Results: The outcome from this study showed a decreased percentage of vegetables/vitamins dietary food intake resulting in low anthropometric indices among the female school children in the study population. The regular consumption of carbohydrates nutritional dietary intake was higher (36.54%) compared with the low intake of proteins (3.08%) and combination of carb/pro (28.85%) among school girls age 5yrs and others as well in Ogbia LGA.The anthropometric indices of all the ages (5-10yrs) studied was low with a p value of <0.05 compared with the WHO BMI standard for the specified ages. Furthermore, the percentile weight for age was 43.07% <1st, 2.31% 3rd and 3.83% 15th percentile respectively compared with those that fall within the normal green zone 21.55%. However, 14.62%, 13.85% and 0.77% were in the 85th, 97th and above 97th percentile. The prevalence of malnutrition observed in this study was 35.38% severe and 4.61% very severe with moderate being 6.92% and mild 3.08% compared with 50.01% normal among the children that are free from PEM. Conclusion: The percentage girls not regularly engaging in normal nutritional dietary intake ie absence of vegetables/vitamins are overwhelmingly high which account for their low BMI status and a neck to neck percentage PEM compared with children free from PEM in the study population. Hence, we hereby encourage the government to take a pro-active measures through the ministry of health to set up enlightenment campaign strategies in these remote communities on the usefulness of regularly including vegetables/vitamins in their diets for normal physiological healthy growth among children as this will help to increase their longevity and improve their academic and psychological performance in life.