Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Rural School Age Children in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the dietary habits and nutritional status of rural school age children in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 360 school children aged 5 – 14 years (194 males and 166 females) were selected through a multi stage random sampling procedure. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on children’s family characteristics, parents’ socio-economic characteristics; and their dietary habits. The heights and weights of the children were measured using approved methods. Age was accessed using documentary evidences provided by parents. The WHO reference body mass index (BMI)-for-age was used to classify the children. Data obtain were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis. Results: The children were from predominantly farming communities and consumed highly monotonous diets. 24-hour dietary recall showed that majority of the respondents ate cassava-baseddiets for breakfast and dinner quite often. Less than 2.0% of the respondents consumed chicken, egg and meat. Although most of the children reported that they consumed fruits, 24hour dietary recall showed that