Determinants Of Anthropometric Status Of Children (6-12 Years) In Ikwuano Local Government In Abia State

ABSTRACT

Every country needs a well nourished population of children for a productive future.

Therefore, combating malnutrition in our communities should be an issue to policy

makers. This is a cross-sectional survey used to determine determinants of

anthropometric. The study was conducted using a multistage sampling technique to select

235 mother-child pairs. Data were collected from the mothers, using a structured

interview schedule and anthropometric measurements of their children were taken to

determine the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting. The data obtained were

analyzed using frequency distribution and percentages. Pearson product moment

correlation was used to determine the relationship between the socio-economic

background of the school-aged children, dietary history of the children and their

anthropometric status. Twenty percent (20%) of the children were 10 years, 80.4% were

living with their parents, 52.3% were 5-8 in their house. According to the socioeconomic

characteristic of their parents, 43.4% and 40.9% of their fathers and mothers went to

secondary school, 3 1 .9% and 31.9% of their fathers and mothers were civil servants

while 22.6% and 28.5% were into trading business. About 61.7% and 69.4% of their

mothers earned less than 50,000 a month while 24.3% and 21.3% earned between

N50,000 to 100,000. Similarly, 75.7% of their fathers usually provide money for food

in their household, 72.8% lived in bungalow, 69.4% used water closet. Majority (77.9%)

of the respondents used tap water which was treated by 44.7% of them and 34% of them

used boiling method to treat their water. Most of them (67.2%) ate 3 times a day, 43.4%

ate fruits three times a day, 3 5.3% take vegetable 4 times a week or more. Prevalence of

stunting and wasting was among 21.7% and 1.3% ofthe children respectively.

Educational status, occupation and income level of the parents significantly determined

the children's dietary habit and nutritional status. Based on these facts, there is need for

the parents of these children to be educated on the effect of stunting in their children's

development as to ensure they work harder to adequately feed them.