Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Iron Deficiency Negatively Affects Nutritional Status and Anthropometric Indices of Primary School Pupils in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

Anozie AO, Nwachukwu NN, Agha NC and Ogbuji CA

A study on the nutritional status and anthropometric indices of primary school pupils in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State was evaluated. Their total iron, total iron binding capacity, haemoglobin, and ferritin levels were determined using spectrophotometric method, anthropometric indices was studied using the standardized method of WHO and UNICEF. The study subjects were selected by random sampling from four (4) different Schools and a total of two hundred (200) pupils, from primary one (Elementary 1) to primary three (Elementary 3) The characteristics of the pupils were tested using the student’s t-test and ANOVA. Correlation between variables was determined by way of Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results obtained showed that there was significant difference between age and the nutritional status of primary school pupils of Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A; A significant difference between gender and the nutritional status of same pupils. Inadequate nutritional status of these pupils was found to be attributable to limited or low consumption of high quality food as a result of the socio-economic/ sociodemographic status of their parents