ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption behavior of milk and milk product, anthropometric and calcium status of secondary school children in the selected rural area of Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state. This study was a cross–sectional survey used to assess the socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric status of 420 rural secondary school children from Nine (9) different rural secondary schools in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State was randomly selected. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric status of the respondents were collected using a structured Questionnaire while urine samples were used to assess the biochemical analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. A P-value of less than 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results from this study revealed that majority of the respondents were male students (50.7%) and more of the respondents (20.2%) were in Junior secondary school (JSS) 2. The major occupation of the respondents’ parents was civil servants (28.6%). About (37.6%) of the participants parent had formal education up to tertiary level. Also, (6.0%) of the participants do not consume milk at all and (49.0%) of them consume milk. The mean height (cm) was higher (73.0%) and the weight was (48.3%). The result showed that more than half (79.8%) of the respondents had a poor knowledge of milk and milk products while few (20.2%) remaining had a good and average knowledge of milk and milk consumption. However, 70.5% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards milk and milk products. The result urine analysis shows that four (4) of the seven (7) participants had a low urine calcium level while the other three (3) were normal (8.60-10.20mg/dl).