ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the assessment of home grown school feeding programme and anthropometric status of the beneficiaries in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. A sample size of 415 respondents were selected using multi stage sampling technique but 400 respondents were interviewed. A structured validated questionnaire was used to determine the parents socio-economic characteristics, dietary diversity score, effect of the programme on academic performance, effect of the programme on pupil’s enrolment and retention and anthropometric status of the beneficiaries (Height for age). World Health Organisation Anthroplus software was used to generate the height for age z-score (HAZ). Result on the height for Age Z-scores reviewed that majority of the respondents 80.8% were normal, 15% were mildly stunted. 3.0% were moderately stunted while 1.3% were severely stunted. These pupils were mostly in Primary 1,2, and 3. Results on the effect of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme on pupils enrolment reviewed that 4.34 to 4.59 mean value indicating that most of the respondent believed that the programme has a positive effect on the academic performance of the pupils. 4.39 indicated improvement on pupil’s performance in both curricular and extra-curricular activities, while 4.39 indicated increase in pupils concentration during teaching. The result on the dietary diversity score reviewed that 31.5% had low dietary diversity, 66.7% had medium dietary diversity score while 1.8% had high dietary diversity. This was reflected in the parents occupation and the level of education as reviewed that majority of their mothers 63.5% had attained secondary education followed by 26.3% who had attained primary education, 7% had no formal education while 3.3.% had attained tertiary education. In terms of parental occupation, it was observed that majority of their fathers 49% were traders, followed by 41% who were artisans, 4.5% were civil servants, 1.8% were unemployed while 3.6% were farmers, majority of their mothers 47.5% were traders, followed by 30.3% were artisan, 5.3% were civil servants, 7.3% were unemployed while 9.3% were farmer. The result on  the effect of the programme on pupils enrolment and retention reviewed that 4.54 to 4.90 mean value indicated that most respondents agreed to a high extent that the programme has positive effect on pupil’s enrolment and retention as the study witnessed that provision of meals encouraged punctuality in schools (4.90). It is also revealed that percentage of children whose anthropometric status is normal is high. The study recommends that Government providing stable funding and budgeting, an institutional arrangement for implementation, monitoring and accountability etc.