Abstract

Iron deficiency is the most common case of micronutrient deficiency in the world and widely known to cause anemia. School-age children are at high risk of micronutrient deficiency due to increased energy expenditure, combined with decreased meal frequency and insufficient maternal attention as well as parasitic infections. This study assessed the dietary pattern and hemoglobin status of school-age children in Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State in Nigeria. Two-hundred-and-twenty-seven (227) children from two schools were recruited for the study. Data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and consumption pattern were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) of the children were determined using standard anthropometric procedures, while anthropometric indices were measured against WHO growth standard. Blood samples of the subjects were collected and analysed for haematological variables (haemoglobin, serum transferrin, and serum ferritin). Data were analyzed using frequency count, percentage, and mean. Research results have revealed that regular consumption of fruits is generally low (6.8%) among respondents. Most of the respondents (61.0%) consume green leafy vegetables on a regular basis, while 54.3% and 46.3% consume meat and fish more than 4 times per week, respectively. The anthropometric measurement of the subjects at baseline shows that 17.2% are severely stunted (HAZ-3SD), 19.5% are moderately stunted (-3SD<HAZ<-1SD), and 39.4% are mildly stunted (‐2 SD < HAZ <‐1 SD). The BAZ status record that 14.1% are underweight (BAZ<-2SD), 1.4% are overweight (2 SD > BAZ >1 SD), and 0.8% are identified with obesity (BAZ >2 SD). Biochemical status shows that 54.9% are anemic, while all (100.0%) of the children have adequate ferritin and transferrin status. This study has acknowledged that school-age children in Odeda local government face serious prevalence of anemia associated with causes beyond the lack of iron-rich food sources.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Van Der Straeten, D., Bhullar, N.K., De Steur, H. Multiplying the efficiency and impact of biofortification through metabolic engineering. Nat Commun, 2020 11, 5203.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19020-4

Abubakar, N., Atiku, M.K., Alhassan, J.A. An assessment of Micronutrient Deficiency: A Comparative Study of Children with Protein-energy Malnutrition and apparently healthy controls in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Trop J.Med Res., 2017: 20(1): 61. DOI:10.4103/1119-0388.198124

Ibeanu, V.N., Edeh, G.C. and Ani, P.N. Evidence-Based Strategy for Prevention of Hidden Hunger among Adolescents in a Suburb of Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 2020: pp 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09729-8

Antonella Lezo, Letizia Baldini and Monica Asteggiano. Failure to Thrive in the Outpatient Clinic: A New Insight. Nutrients 2020, 12(8), 2202; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082202 Received: 30 June 2020

Andrea M. Maxwell & Raghavendra B. Rao. Perinatal iron deficiency as an early risk factor for schizophrenia, Nutri Neurosci, 2021. DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2021.1943996

Nobuko M., Mieko M., Salima A., Israt A. H., Liaquat A., Mahmud, H. F., Sk Akhtar, A. A Pilot School Meal Program Using Local Foods with Soybean in Rural Bangladesh: Effects on the Nutritional Status of Children. JFNS, 2008: (9) 290-313. DOI: 10.4236/fns.2018.94023

Solovyova, A.V., Grace, V., Ermolenko, K.S. and Khordlskiv, V.A. Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age. 2017 doi: 10.577271520.

De Benoist B, McLean E, Egli I, Cogswell M. Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993–2005: WHO global database on anaemia. WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43894/9789241596657_eng.pdf;jsessionid=5748275CA288715A76FCA710B51C5AEB?sequence=1

World Health Organization/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Technical Consultation on the Assessment of Iron Status at the Population Level. 2004. Geneva, Switzerland. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/75368

Shaw JG, Friedman JF. Iron-deficiency anemia: focus on infectious diseases in lesser developed countries. Anemia. 2011;2011 doi: 10.1155/2011/260380. 260380

Akodu, S.A., Adisu, E., Njokanma, O.F. and Kehinde, O.A. Iron Deficiency Anaemia Among Apparently Health Preschool Children in Lagos, Nigeria. Afri Health Sci, 2016: 16(1): 61-68. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v16i1.8.

Suchdev, P.S., Pena-Rosas, J.P. and De-Regil, L.M. 2015.Multiple Micronutrient Powders for Home (Point-of-Use) Fortification of Foods in Pregnant Women. Food and Nutrition Sciences view, Cochrane Database Syst Rev., 2015: pp 6. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011158.pub2.

Thando, P., Gwetu, M. T. and Muray C.. Health and Educational Achievement of School-aged Children: The Impact of Anemia and Iron Status on Learning; Health SA Gesondheid, J. Int. Health Sci., 2019: 24(0):1101. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1101

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “The State of Food Insecurity in the World,” Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, 2002, pp. 2-4. https://www.fao.org/3/i4030e/i4030e.pdf

Tariku, E.Z., Abebe, G.A., Melketsedik, Z.A., Gutema, B.T., Megersa, N.G., Sorrie, M.B., Weldehawariat, F.G. and Getahun, E.A. Anemia and its associated factors among school-age children living in different climatic zones of Arba Minch Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia. BMC Hematology 2019: pp19. doi: 10.1186/s12878-019-0137-4

WHO. Multiple micronutrient powder point-of-use fortification of foods consumed by children 2-12 years of age. 2019. https://www.who.int/elena/titles/micronutrientpowder_infants/en/

Van der Hoeven M. The effect of African Leafy Vegetables on the alleviation of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Schoolchildren. North West province, S. Africa 2014. doi: 10.1017/S1368980015002037.

Kassebaum, N. J., Rashmi, J., Moshen, N., Sarah, K. W., Nicole J., Rafael, L. and Mathilde, R. A Systematic Analysis of Global Anaemia Burden from 1990 to 2010. Blood, 2014: 123(5):15-24. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-06-508325

Nguyen T. H., Fanny S., Agnès de S., Arnaud L., Nguyen P. T., Nguyen C.K., Olivier B., Frank T. W and Jacques B. Biscuits Fortified with Multiple Micronutrients for School children in Vietnam. Br J Nutr, 2012;108(8):1419-27. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511006945

Zimmermann, M.B., Biebinger, R. and Rohner, F. Vitamin A Supplementation in Children with Poor Vitamin A and Iron Status Increases Nerythropoietin and Hemoglobin Concentrations without Changing Total Body Iron. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 2006: 84:580–586. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/84.3.580.

Wieringa, F.T., Berger, J. and Dijkhuizen, M.A. Combined Iron and Zinc Supplementation in Infants Improved Iron and Zinc Status, but Interactions reduced Efficacy in a Multicountry trial in Southeast Asia. J Nutri., 2007: 137:466–471. doi: 10.1093/jn/137.2.466

Bach, U., Jensen, H. N., Rasmussen, H. H., Fallingborg, J. , Holst, M. Dietary Habits in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis—Cause of Nutrient Deficiency: Food and Nutri. Sci.,2014: (5) 20, October 20, 2014. DOI:10.4236/fns.2014.520206

Odunukwe N.N., Salako L. A., Okany C. Serun ferritin and other haematological measurements in apparently healthy adults with malaria parasitaemia in Lagos, Nigeria: Trop. Med. and Int. health, 2000: 8 (5):582-586. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2000.00601.x.

Bamidele Bello, Oyenike Ekekezie and Olusegun Afolabi T. Dietary pattern and nutritional status of primary school pupils in a South Western Nigerian state: A rural urban Comparison, 10(10): 203-212, October 2016 DOI: 10.5897/AJFS2016.1439

Adamu A., Adjei N.G. and Kubuga, C.K. Effects of Dietary Patterns on the Nutritional Status of Upper Primary School Children in Tamale Metropolis. Pak J. Nutri. 2012: 11(7):591-609. 10.3923/pjn.2012.689.707

Afolabi O.T., Bello, B., Ijadunola, M.Y., Alabi, C.O., Akabueze, C.E. and Alabi, O.A. Media Exposure in Primary School Pupils in South Western Nigeria: A Weight Concern? Int J. Child Adolesc Med. Health, 2015: 8(3):315-320. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=qR92yckAAAAJ&citation_for_view=qR92yckAAAAJ:UebtZRa9Y70C

Omuemu, Vivian O. and Ogboghodo, Esohe O., Nutritional Factors and Academic Performance of Primary School Children in an Urban City in Southern Nigeria. Int. J. Health and Med. Sci., 2020: 3(.3). https://zenodo.org/record/3965161#.YaoU9tDMLIU

Akinlade, A R., Ajibade, A. O., Gbadamosi, O. F., Ani, I.Y. and Adeyeye, J.A. Nutritional Content of School Meals and the Nutritional Status of Primary School Meals Children in Lagos State Nigeria. IJAAR,2020: 6(10): 2488-9849. https://www.ijaar.org/articles/v6n10/ste/ijaar-ste-v6n10-oct20-p17.pdf

Adanna, A. U., Maryam, U. I., Chukwuna, D.. Nutritional Status of School-age children in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. BMC pediatrics, 2020: 20(1): 1-9. https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-020-1994-5

Idris, A. A., Mohammed, F. B., David, D. S. and Collins, J. Prevalence and Correlation of Stunting among the School-Age Population in North-central Nigeria. The Pan Afri. med J. 2019 :18 (31):170. Doi:10.11604/pamj.2018.31.170.15763

Danjin Mela, Solomon O. Adewoye , Henry Sawyerr O. Prevalence andSocio-demographic Determinants of Stunting among School-age children (SAC) in Gombe State, Nigeria. J. Adv.Med., 2020: 22-34. DOI: 10.9734/jammr/2020/v32i330379

Ogunnaike, M.G., Kehinde, M.O, and Olabode, O.J. Determinants of Malnutrition among Children in Rural Farm Households in Ogun State, Niger. J. Sci., 2020: 4(4):90 - 95 90.

National Nutrition and health survey (NNHS). Report on the Nutrition and Health situation of Nigeria, 2018. https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/reports/national-nutrition-and-health-survey-nnhs-2018

Kuku-Shittu, O., Onabanjo, O., Fadare, O. and Oyeyemi, M. Child Malnutrition in Nigeria: Evidence from Kwara State,NSSP Working Paper 33. Washington, D.C.: IFPRI. 2016 http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15738 coll2/id/130499

Quadri, J.A., Onabanjo, O.O. and Ojure, M.A. Assessment of the iron status of school age 7-12 years in selected schools in Ogun state. J.DAN, 2019:10:19-31. https://www.jdan.org.ng/assessment-of-the-iron-status-of-school-children-aged-7-12-years-in-selected-schools-in-ogun-state/

Aregbeshola B. S., Onifade O. M., Awuviry-Newton K. Prevalence and correlation of anemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in Nigeria: J. Public Health Nutri., 2021:3 (12). DOI: https://doi.org/10.26596/wn.202112358-74

Bello-Manga, H., Awwalu, S., Ijei, I., Hassan, A. and Mamman, A.I. Prevalence of Anemia and Iron Status among Nomadic Fulani Children in a Grazing Reserve in Northwestern Nigeria. 2018: Doi:10.41031archms-18-18.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46676/ij-fanres.v3i1.55

Refbacks

• There are currently no refbacks.

E-ISSN : 2722-4066

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.