TOPIC
Prevalence of Wasting and Underweight Amongst Preschool Aged Children in Awka South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria

AUTHOR

Okafor, O.C., Okafor, I.N., Ezenwa, C.B. and Idama, F.O.

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out in Awka-South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria, to determine the current prevalence of wasting and underweight amongst preschool aged children using anthropometry. A cross sectional survey research design was used for the study to collect sampled data of 449 children (240 boys and 209 girls) between 0 and 5 years of age. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were taken using standardized methods. The weight was measured using a calibrated digital bathroom weighing scale while the height was measured using standiometer. Socioeconomic and health related data of the pupils were also collected. From the anthropometric measurements, nutritional indicators (weight-for-height and weight-for-age) were generated by analysis of the data using WHO Anthro Survey Analyser (Version 3.2.2). The study revealed that 7.7% of the children were wasted including 0.7% who were severely wasted while O.4% were underweight. This study also revealed that more children were wasted in the urban areas (8.8%) including 0.4% that were severely wasted than in the rural areas (6.3%) including 1.1% that were severely wasted. However, underweight children were more in the rural areas (0.5%) than in the urban areas (0.4%), though the difference is not significant. It was concluded that the results of this study showed a great reduction in the prevalence of wasting and underweight amongst preschool aged children below 5 years in Awka-South LGA Anambra State, Nigeria base on comparison with previous studies.
Keywords: Wasting, underweight, prevalence and preschool aged children.

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PUBLISHED

2023-01-11

HOW TO CITE

Okafor, O.C., Okafor, I.N., Ezenwa, C.B. and Idama, F.O.(2023).Prevalence of Wasting and Underweight Amongst Preschool Aged Children in Awka South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria. IAA Journal of Biological Sciences 10(1):61-67.