Prevalence and Pattern of the Nutritional Status of Adolescents Attending Public Secondary Schools in Gokana, A Rural Community in Rivers State, Nigeria
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 12, Issue 1
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the prevalence and pattern of malnutrition among adolescents in public secondary schools in a rural community. Study Design: A school based cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Public secondary schools in Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria between August and October, 2016. Methodology: A total of 300 adolescents between 10 and 18 years were recruited from students attending public secondary schools in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State using a two staged simple random sampling technique. Information from respondents was obtained using a pretested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. The respondents’ weights and heights were measured and used to calculate their body mass index (BMI). BMI was used to classify them into stunted, underweight, normal and overweight/obese adolescents using the 2007 World Health Organisation’s reference population. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: The prevalence of stunting, underweight and overweight/obesity in this study were 14.3%, 15.6% and 0.0% respectively. Male and older adolescents were more likely to be underweight and stunted compared to female and younger adolescents. Conclusion: Acute and chronic under-nutrition is still a major problem among adolescents in rural communities in Rivers State unlike overweight / obesity. Our findings have implications for intensified nutrition programmes generally and specifically for adolescents at all levels of government.
Authors and Affiliations
R. U. Oluoha, E. O. Asuquo, M. M. Mezie-Okoye
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP311596
- DOI 10.9734/JAMPS/2017/31805
- Views 87
- Downloads 0
Detection of and Adjustment for Multiple Unmeasured Confounding Variables in Logistic Regression by Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling
Aim: To compare the bias magnitude between logistic regression and Bayesian structural equation modeling (SEM) in a small sample with strong unmeasured confounding from two correlated latent variables. Study Design: Stat...
Positive Anti-Cadmium Poisoning Anti-Oxidant Effects of Moringa Seed Oil and Cashew Nut Oil in Juvenile Wistar Rats Hippocampus
Moringa oleifera seed oil and Anacardium occidentale oil contain certain antioxidants including ascorbic acid, phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids; these antioxidants have potentials to act against oxidative stress gen...
Assessment of Thrombolytic Activity of Selected Species from Lamiaceae Family Growing Naturally in Kurdistan Region\Iraq Using In-vitro Model
Aims: The present study was aimed to assess most commonly used medicinal plant belong to Lamiaceae family for their thrombolytic activity. Place and Duration of the Study: Pharmacy College\ Hawler Medical University, Ju...
Assessing the Prevalence and Patterns of Elder’s Abuse in Imo State, Nigeria: A Rural – Urban Comparative Study
This study highlighted the 12-months prevalence of elder abuse in rural and urban communities in Imo State and also compared the pattern of elder abuse in both communities. A cross-sectional study of 371 rural and 314 ur...
Catastrophic Anti-phospholipid Syndrome Presenting with Symmetrical Peripheral Gangrene
Introduction: Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired auto-immune thrombophilia and is very rare in children presenting with skin manifestations. Case Report: A case of 12 years old female who presented to the Em...