Prevalence of Malnutrition and Underweight among School Boys in Ogbalga Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Aim: This study assess the prevalence of malnutrition and underweight among school boys in Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa state.

Methods: The was a cross sectional study consisting of 250 school boys within the ages of 5-10yrs selected randomly from five communities during school period. Data were obtained using weight scale balance calibrated in (kg), metre rule (m), muac tape (cm) and well-structured questionnaire. The weight for age, height for age, MUAC and BMI methods used in this study was in accordance with WHO, IAP classification.

Results: This study shows a significant difference (<0.05) between the weight, height and BMI of school boys in Ogbia, Oloibiri/Otuogidi when compared with Otuabagi/otuakeme. Muac mean value for the entire age 5-10yrs in Ogbia axis was 17cm compared with Otuabagi axis of 16cm with no significant p-value observed. Carbohydrate (56.8%) dietary food was mostly consumed regularly in comparison with carbohydrate/protein (32%), protein (8%) and vegetable/vitamins (3.2%) among the children. More so 78.4% of the study population have not been deworm for the past over 3months and above. However 21.6% of the study population are deworm within 3month intervals. This study further observe 41.6% among the children as underweight falling below the 1st percentile level with just 13.2% in the median green line zone having normal weight in both communities. However 15.2% are within the 97th percentile while 1.6% are above this zone. The weight for age regarding PEM classification shows 55.89% and 0.74% children suffering from severe and very severe malnutrition in Ogbia, Oloibiri/Otuogidi though 32.37% are PEM free compared with 66.68% normal children in Otuabagi/otuakeme, however 28.07% and 1.75% are suffering from severe and very severe cases of malnutrition in the just two mention communities above.

Conclusion: The combination of the entire percentages from the different communities considered in this study shows 1.2% and 43.2% prevalence rate of very severe and severe malnutrition compare with 48% PEM free among boys in Ogbalga while 44% and 16.8% are underweight and overweight/obese compared with 13.2% on the green median zone of normal weight for age. Intervention strategies that include appropriate children feeding with micronutrients should be implemented to reduce the burden of under nutrition in addition to effective regular deworming to help reduce the burden of weight deficit among children in the state.