NUTRITIONAL STATUS

ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES AND PREVALENCE OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA: AN INTERVENTION STUDY

Publisher / Conference Name
Sciendo
Author(s)
John Esimaje Moyegbone
Abstract / Summary
Anaemia being a condition of low levels of haemoglobin in the blood is a public health problem that affects approximately 1.3 to 2.2 billion people worldwide. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and its association with anthropometric measurements among school children in Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a pretest-postest study of 201 primary school (age 6-12 years) and secondary school (age 13-19 years) respondents randomly selected from primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Delta State. Eighty-three (41.3%) males and 118 (58.7%) females with a mean age of $12.30\pm3.14$ years were enrolled in the study. The preventive intervention protocol consisted of a single dose of vitamin A, daily vitamin C, weekly vitamin E, and twice weekly ferrous sulphate supplements administered for five weeks. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected. Assessment of anaemia was done by pretest-postest haemoglobin determination. Results: The prevalence of anaemia at baseline was 38.3% and 0% post-intervention. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness at baseline were 7.0%, 14.3% and 15.0%, respectively, and post-intervention were 5.5%, 8.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight at baseline and post-intervention was 5.0%. The correlation between anaemia and underweight was $r = -0.399$, $p = 0.005$. The correlation between anaemia and body mass index was $r = -0.234$, $p < 0.001$. Conclusion: Nutritional deficiency could cause anaemia among school children. However, intake of antioxidant vitamins and iron might help to reduce the burden.
Year of Publication
2024
Publication Type
Journal Article
Keyword(s)
ANAEMIA
Haemoglobin
Malnutrition
NUTRITIONAL STATUS
vitamins

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG NON CLINICAL STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.

Submitted by Efesomo Collins on
Author(s)
OGWU ADAEZE NICOLE
Faculty
SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES
Department
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
Year of Publication
2025
Keyword
NUTRITIONAL STATUS
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
quality of life
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Ogwu reviewed 12 10 25.pdf
Publication Type
Undergraduate Project
Abstract
Background: University students often face challenges such as poor dietary habits, irregular physical activity, and academic stress, which can adversely affect their health and quality of life (QoL). Nutritional status, physical activity, and QoL are key interrelated health determinants, but limited evidence exists among Nigerian university populations. Understanding these relationships is essential for promoting healthy lifestyles and better well-being among young adults.
Aims: This study aimed to determine the association between nutritional status, physical activity, and quality of life among non-clinical undergraduate students of the University of Benin. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 330 non-clinical undergraduates selected through multistage random sampling. Data were collected using a self- administered questionnaire comprising the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson’s correlation and Chi-square tests, were used, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Among the 330 participants, 54.8% were male and 45.2% female, mostly aged 18–25 years. The mean BMI was 24.13 ± 14.18 kg/m², with 53.3% having normal weight, 19.4%
overweight, 12.1% obese, and 11.2% underweight. Most students (76.1%) practiced healthy eating habits. Physical activity levels were moderate in 48.8%, low in 30.9%, and high in 20.3%. Regarding QoL, 62.7% had moderate scores, 32.7% high, and 4.5% low. A significant association was found between nutritional status and physical activity (p = 0.037), but not between nutritional status and QoL (p = 0.096) or physical activity and QoL (p = 0.697).
Conclusion: This study found a significant association between nutritional status and physical activity, but not with quality of life among non-clinical students in the University of Benin. Most students maintained normal BMI and moderate physical activity levels, though some displayed poor nutrition and lifestyle habits. These findings highlight the importance of university-based health programs to improve nutrition, activity levels, and overall well-being.
Supervisor(s)
S.O BOLARINDE
co-supervisor
NIL
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