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Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online)
Vol.3, No.12, 2013

www.iiste.org

Determinants of Children's Nutritional Status among Primary
School Children of Farming Households in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
A.B Sekumade (Phd.).
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Ekiti State University, Nigeria.
E-mail: bosedeseku@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This paper assessed nutritional status and their determinants among primary school children of farming
households in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy five (175) female parents in farming occupation
were randomly drawn and surveyed for twelve weeks. Preliminary analysis indicated that majority (i.e. 67
percent) of the mothers have their ages falling between 20 and 40 years and had children within the 511year old age bracket, who were in primary schools in the community. Anthropometric measures indicated that
69percent of the male children and about 51percent of female children had weight-for-age indices within the
range 2.01 and 3.01kg/yr. About 56percent of male children and about 41percent of female children posted
weight-for-height measures of between 5.01 and 20.0kg/m. Also, about 35percent and 44percent of male and
female children, respectively, had height-for-age indices within the 0.12 and below 0.15m/yr. Estimates of the
body mass indices (BMI) revealed that 50percent and about 51percent, respectively, of the children fall within
the 15.0 and below 20.0kg/m2. Contingency analysis revealed that mothersā€™ educational status and mothersā€™
appearance, childā€™s sex, and living condition/environment of the household showed significant associations
(P<0.10) with indicators of nutritional status (i.e. weight-for-height, weight-for-age, and BMI) of primary school
children in Ado-Ekiti. Regression analysis confirmed that frequency of reporting maladies/visitations to medical
facilities had positive influence on BMI. On the contrary, childā€™s physical appearance had negative effect on the
weight-for-age indices while the size of the household and incomes of other household members had positive
influence on the weight-for-age indices. Similarly, childā€™s age, household size, frequency of illness, living
condition, and incomes of other household members influenced positively childrenā€™s weight-for-height indices.
Childā€™s age affected childrenā€™s height-for-age indices negatively while incomes of other household members
influenced childā€™s height-for-age measures positively. The implication of some salient incidences such as obesity,
stunting and wasting among primary school children of farming households in Ado-Ekiti are examined, and
useful suggestions proffered.
Keywords: Children, Nutritional Status, Farming households and Anthropometrics.

1.

INTRODUCTION
Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development across the entire life span. From
the earliest stages of foetal development, at birth, through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood
and old age, proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth, mental development,
performance and productivity, health and well-being (FAO/WHO, 1992; WHO, 2000).
Malnutrition, and in particular protein-energy malnutrition, in young and growing children have become one of
the serious health problems in Nigeria. Malnutrition is regarded as a complex outcome with multiple causation.
It can have adverse effects on the physical and mental development of growing children. Moreover, since growth
disorder in human being sometimes result from poor nutrition and other environmental upsets, growth surveys
and empirical growth indicators would prove quite essential particularly in monitoring the nutritional outcomes
and status of young children in any community.
Evidence has shown that 4% of the total children born in developing countries die of malnutrition
before they are five years old (Toriola, 1990); and that the most affected are usually the children of illiterate
parents in low socio-economic brackets that have low purchasing power in the economy (Adekunle, 2005). Quite
a number of studies have shown that poor feeding and or recurrent infections as a result of poverty leads to
stunted growth and delayed mental development. It has also been shown that physical growth and cognitive
development in children are faster during early years of life and that by the age of four years, 50% of the adult
intellectual capacity has been attained and before thirteen years, 92% of adult intellectual capacity is attained
(Kerr & Black, 2000; Ivanovic et al., 2002; Chang et al., 2002; Braveman & Gruskin, 2003; Liu et al., 2003).
Empirical analysis of nutritional outcomes in children involves the examination of individual childrenā€™s
physical condition, growth and development, behaviour, the urinary, blood and tissue levels of essential and
other trace elements (or nutrients), and the quality and quantity of nutrients intake (Krause and Mahan, 1979).

24
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online)
Vol.3, No.12, 2013

www.iiste.org

According to Fisher and Fungua (1979), the main purpose of most nutritional studies is to locate persons and
groups (including children) whose nutritional status ought to be improved upon. Findings from such studies can
lead to the development and implementation of sound nutritional and/or educational programmes, which will
help people to improve their diets and food habits. Such studies can also confirm the relationships between the
food consumption habits/behaviour, and the nutritional outcomes/status for those who make decisions about food
production and consumption so as to meet, as well as to improve upon the peopleā€™s nutritional needs at various
levels and ages in Nigeria.
Childhood undernutrition remains a public health problem in Nigeria as the status did not improve
substantially during the last two decades. The implications of this unrelenting situation for the well being of
children and the development of the nation as a whole are unacceptable because undernutrition contributes to the
high rates of morbidity, disability and mortality among children (WHO;2000).
In addition, undernutrition
constrains peopleā€™s ability to fulfil their potential as it is also associated with impaired growth, mental
development and school performance, reduced adult size and reduced work capacity, which in turn impacts on
economic productivity at the national level (Hart and Atinmo; 2003). Generally, children constitute the most
nutritionally vulnerable group in any community. In this study, it is hypothesized that children from farming
families are at special nutritional risk, and this justifies the need for an investigation of the underlying causes of
malnutrition in children living under such circumstances.
The main focus of the study therefore is to analyse, identify and to quantify the effect of major
factors that determine nutritional status of children based on some morbidity conditions that can have effect on
the nutritional status of children ages 5-11years in Nigeria, using some anthropometric parameters such as
underweight (weight for age), wasting (weight for height) and stunting (age for height). To achieve the objective
of the study, three main indicators of child malnutrition were used; stunting, underweight and wasting. By taking
anthropometric measurements of sex, age, height and weight, and using them to generate Z-scores, the study
estimated the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting among primary school children of selected
farming households. In the regression analysis, the three malnutrition indices were regressed against several
child-specific, households and socioeconomic variables.
2.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 The Study Data and Collection Method
The study was conducted in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. In order to achieve the objectives of the study,
anthropometric data on primary school children were collected in a survey investigation. The data include those
on household socio-economic status, as well as health, sanitary status and other conditions in the living
environment of the farming households in the study area.
For the purpose of the survey, structured questionnaires were prepared and administered on parents of
primary school children living in farming households in Ado-Ekiti. The survey spanned a period of three months
and information on the height, weight, age, sex, visits to hospitals/clinics, outward health appearance of children
between 5 and 11 years old, born and/or being raised in a farm family/household in Ado-Ekiti were obtained.
Similarly, information was obtained on the mothers of target children in the farming households
covered in the survey. In addition, data were obtained on the composition, income, religion and occupational
status of respondent households in Ado-Ekiti. Additional information was collected on farming householdsā€™
access to safe water, and the type and location of living quarters, waste disposal habits and practices, and food
storage. Effort was also made to confirm any incidence of epidemic within respondentsā€™ households in the last
five years.
Anthropometric measurements (heights and weights) of children and their parents were measured using
standard techniques (WHO, 1983). All measurements were performed between 8.00 and 12.00hr. Height was
measured to the nearest millimetre, with a portable direct reading stadiometer while the subjects were shoeless.
Body weight was measured with light clothing and shoes off, using Seca digital scale (German) to the nearest
100g. The weight-for-height z-score (an index of body wasting) and height-for-age z-score (an index of stunting)
were determined as nutritional indicator for present and past nutritional status respectively.
2.2 Method of Data Analysis
Both descriptive and quantitative analysis was carried out in the study. Descriptive analytical tools such as
frequency tables, ratios and percentages, were used to describe the householdsā€™ socio-demographic
characteristics. These tools were, in addition, employed to present indices of child malnutrition and the female
parentsā€™ health/nutritional status as well as to present information on some basic environmental situation and
sanitary status of the target households in the study area.

25
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online)
Vol.3, No.12, 2013

www.iiste.org

The quantitative analysis that was carried out in the study is in three parts. The first part entailed the
construction of a body mass index (BMI) and some other health and nutritional indicators for children (5-11 year
old) and their maternal parents. With these ratios/indicators, the incidence of under or mal-nutrition was
determined among children and their female parents living as farm families in the study area. In addition,
appropriate standards were used to establish the nutritional status (that is, cases of obesity, underweight, stunting,
and wasting) of the target children in the study area.
As a second part to the quantitative analysis, several contingency tables were prepared in the study. The
Chi-square analysis was carried out so as to determine the significance of the associations between several
householdsā€™ socio-economic and environmental variables, and the nutritional/health status and indicators for
children and female parents living as farm families in the study area.
The regression analysis formed the final aspect of the quantitative analysis that was carried out in the
study. In this regard, the regression equation of the form below was fitted by the ordinary least square (OLS)
estimation technique to the study data.
Vi = f (X1i, X2i, X3i, X4i,Xni).
......... (1)
Where;
Vi is the indicator of the nutritional outcomes of the ith child in the study area;
X1i is the educational attainment (in years) of the ith female parent in the study area;
X2i is the income (N) of the ith mother in the study area;
X3i is the household size of the ith farm family in the study area;
X4i is a dummy variable for the living condition of the ith farm family with study area (1 = hygienic
environment; 0 = otherwise);
X5i is the frequency of visit by the ith farm child to health institutions in the last five years in the study
area;
X6i is a dummy variable for the access of the ith farm family to safe water and some other conveniences
of living in the study area (1 = access; 0 = otherwise);
X7i is the age of the ith farm child in primary school in the study area;
X8i is the land holding (Ha) of the ith farm family in the study area;
X9i is a dummy variable for the incidence of epidemic in the ith farm family in the study area (1 =
record of epidemics; 0 = otherwise).
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Socio-demographic and health characteristics of female parents and their households.
Table1 shows the descriptive analysis carried out in the study area which indicated that, majority (i.e. 68 percent)
of the mothers have their ages falling between 20 and 40 years. The mothers were mostly of the Christian faith.
Only 44 percent were Moslems while none of them practiced the traditional religion.Three quarters (i.e. 75
percent) of the sampled mothers are literate. Of this proportion, however, 42 percent had between one and six
years of education. Only 25 percent among the respondent female parents in Ado-Ekiti had no formal
education. The bulk (i.e. 69 percent) of the respondent mothers had between one and five members residing
within their households. None of the female parents however, had more than 10 members residing within their
households. Further evidence revealed that majority (i.e. 50 percent) of the mothers reside within households
with ownership of income ā€“ generating asset (i.e. land of at least 1.5 Ha in size.). 70 percent of the mothers had
between one and three children. None, however, was found to have more than six children living within the
household. Also, majority (i.e. 66 percent) of the mothers had their individual weights falling between 40 and
less than 60kg. Besides, 30 percent of the mothers weighed over 60kg while none of them had their individual
weights falling below 20kg. Almost all the mothers posted height measurements that were at least 1.5m. The
mothers were thus predominantly of average-to-tall heights in the study area.
3.2 Anthropometric measures distibution for Nutritional outcomes among school- age children (5-11 years old)
in Ado-Ekiti
Tables 2 provides the nutritional status indicators for children within the 5-11 years age bracket by sex
in Ado-Ekiti. According to Table 2, there were more female children (i.e. 91) than male children (i.e. 84) within
the 5-11 year age bracket among the study sample. Further, evidence revealed that the bulk (i.e. about 69 percent)
of the male children within the age bracket had their weight-for-age indices falling between 2.01 and 3.00.
Similarly, the bulk (i.e. about 51 percent) of the female children of the same age bracket had their weight-for-age
indices between 2.01 and 3.00. While 35 percent of the female children had their weight-for-age indices above
3.00, only about 18 percent of the male children had their weight-for-age indices above 3.00. Consequently,

26
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online)
Vol.3, No.12, 2013

www.iiste.org

within the 5-11 year age category, the male children are likely to suffer global malnutrition (i.e. stunting and
wasting) than the female children.
The weight-for-height indices for male and female children for this age bracket, revealed that about 56
percent of the male children and about 41 percent of the female children had their weight-for-height indices
between 15.01 and 20.00 brackets. However, while about 23 percent of the male children had their weight-forheight indices above 20.00, about 40 percent of the female children had their weight-for-height measures above
20.00. The incidence of acute malnutrition (i.e. wasting) is thus likely to be more among the male children than
among the female children of the same age bracket.
Table 2 further provides the distribution of children by their height-for-age indices. The bulk of both the
male children (i.e. above 35 percent) and the female children (i.e. about 44 percent) had their height-for-age
indices between 0.12 and below 0.15. However, while only 34 percent of the female children had their heightfor-age indices above 0.15, fifty-two (52) percent of male children had their height-for-age indices above 0.15.
Consequently, the male children in the study sample are most likely to suffer from stunting (or chronic
malnutrition) than the female children.
The body mass indices for the children presented in Table 2, revealed that half of both the male children
(50 percent) and female children (about 51 percent) had a body mass indices that fall within the 15 and below 20
category. Further, approximately equal proportions of male and female children (i.e. 89 percent and about 90
percent, respectively) had their body mass indices below 20. Consequently, sizeable proportions of both male
and female children between 5 and 11 years old in the study sample are underweight. Also, while about 4 percent
of the male children were overweight (i.e. 25 and below 30), only 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively, of the
female children were overweight (i.e. 25 and below 30) and obese (i.e. above 30) in the study sample.
3.3 Contingency analysis of major factors influencing nutritional outcomes
The result of contingency analysis of the salient factors influencing the nutritional status of children between 5
and 11years old in Ado-Ekiti are presented in Tables 3, empirical evidence showed that all the relationships were
significant at the 10 percent level. For children between 5 and 11years old, the hygienic status of the dwelling
environment influence children body mass indices as well as their weight-for-height measures.
3.4 Socio-economic and environmental determinants of nutritional outcomes
Table 4 presents the results of the stepwise (ordinary least squares) regression analysis of the effects of
household and environmental variables on childrenā€™s (i.e. 5 to 11 years old) nutritional outcomes in Ado-Ekiti. It
is shown that, for children 5 to 11 years old, the more paled a childā€™s physical appearance and the higher the
child frequency of visitation to health/medical facilities, the higher the childā€™s body mass index. As such,
visitations to health facilities, as well as the outward paleness and sickly appearance of children between 5 and
11 years can be expected to compel drastic improvement in their nutritional status, and hence, in their body mass
indices.
The results of the analysis of the determinants of the childā€™s weight-for-height indices are also provided
in Table 4. For children 5 to11 years old, the older the children, the lower the childrenā€™s weight-for-age indices.
However, the larger the size of the household, and the larger the income of other members living in farming
households in the study area, the better the childrenā€™s nutritional status. Large households and supplementary
incomes within the households in Ado-Ekiti should be expected to improve childrenā€™s exposure to
supplementary meals including snacks in between normal meals. Expectedly, such exposures should improve a
childā€™s nutritional status.
The table also provides the determinants of childrenā€™s weight-for-height indices in the study area. The
childā€™s age indicated a positive influence on the weight-for-height indices of children between 5 and 11 years old.
In addition, the motherā€™s income and supplementary income contributions by other household members, and
incidence of illness and serenity/hygiene of the living environment had a positive effect on their weight-forheight indices. Ageing among children - 5 to 11 years old - would improve care and nutrition for children, and
hence reduce the likelihood of wasting (or acute malnutrition) among children. Increase in incomes of mothers,
and in supplementary income contributions by other household members would raise the childrenā€™s weight-forheight indices and lower the incidence of acute malnutrition. Improvement in the living environment and
frequency of maladies can be expected to improve child nutrition and health status indicator in the study area.
Finally, the results of the analysis of the determinants of the height-for-age indices for children in AdoEkiti, revealed that for children 5 to 11 years old, the older they become, the lower their height-for-age indices,
and hence, the likelihood of revealing chronic malnutrition (or stunting). Moreover, supplementary income
contributions by other household members would improve childrenā€™s height-for-age indices, and reduce the
possibility of showing any stunted growth.
27
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online)
Vol.3, No.12, 2013

www.iiste.org

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The primary objective of this study was to analyse the socio-economic and environmental determinants
of nutritional outcomes in primary school children of farming households in Ado-Ekiti. In order to achieve this
objective, one hundred and seventy five female parents of the target children were drawn from the seven
traditional quarters in the town and surveyed over a period of three months. The anthropometric data collected
were analysed using both descriptive and quantitative analytical tools.
Results indicated that the majority of the mothers had between one and three children living, within the
households. Empirical analysis of the nutritional outcomes among school children in Ado-Ekiti revealed that the
male children are likely to suffer global malnutrition than the female children. Also, the incidence of acute
malnutrition is likely to be more among the male children than among the female children of the same age
bracket. Furthermore, the male children in the study sample are most likely to suffer from chronic malnutrition
than the female children. According to the estimates of the body mass indices, sizeable proportion of both male
and female children between 5 and 11years old in the study sample were underweight.
The result of the contingency analysis revealed that the hygienic status of the dwelling environment
influenced the childrenā€™s body mass indices and their weight-for-height measures. Furthermore, regression
analysis confirmed that the more paled the childā€™s physical appearance, and the higher the childā€™s frequency of
visitation to health or medical facilities, the higher the body mass index.
The older the children become the lower their weight-for-age indices. The bigger the size of the
household, and the larger the income earned by other members of the household, the better the nutritional
outcomes among the children. The childā€™s age indicated a positive influence on the weight-for-height indices.
Again, the motherā€™s income and supplementary income contributions by other household member, and incidence
of illness and the nature of serenity/hygiene of the living environment had a positive effect on the weight-forheight indices for the children. Also, ageing would improve care and nutrition for children. Specifically,
empirical analysis confirmed that the older the children, the lower their height-for-age indices. Moreover,
supplementary income contributions by other household members would improve childrenā€™s height-for-age
indices in the study area.
Empirical findings suggested that male children in Ado-Ekiti are prone to incidences of global
malnutrition (i.e. underweight), acute malnutrition (i.e. wasting) and chronic malnutrition (i.e. stunting).
Improvement in the hygiene status of the living compound, better earning opportunities for mothers, and more
access to supplementary incomes by other household members can improve nutritional outcomes among
children as well as reduce paleness and frequency of visitations to health facilities.
Conclusively, the study revealed that the proportion of malnourished and intellectually deprived children among
REFERENCES
Adekunle, L.(2005): The Effect of Family Structure on a Sample of Malnourished Urban Nigerian
Children. Food and nutrition bulletin. 26, 230-233
Braveman,P and Gruskin,S (2003): Poverty, Equity, Human right and Health. Bulletin of the World
Health Organization. 81, 539-545.
Chang, S.M; Walker,S.P; Grantham-MCGregor,S; Powell, C.A.(2000): Early Chid Stunting and Later
Behaviour and School Achievement. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 43,775-783.
FAO/WHO,(1992) : ā€˜Nutrition and Developmentā€™ A Global Assessment. International Conference on
nutrition, Rome. Pp25
Fisher, W and Fungua (1979) Principle of Nutrition. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Hart, A.D and Atinmo, T. (1982): The assessment of nutrition status of urban and rural school children in
River State of Nigeria. Nig .J, Nutr. Sci., Vol. 3, pp. 141-153.
Ivanovic, D,M; Leiva,B.P; Perez, H.T; Inzunza,N.B; Almagia,A.F; Toro, T.D and Bosch, E(2002):
Nutritional Status, Brain Development and Scholastic Achievement of Children High School Graduates
from High and Low Intellectual Quotient and Socio Economic Status. British Journal of Nutrition 87,81-92.
Kerr, M.A; Black, M.M and Krishnakumar, A (2000): Failure-to-Thrive, Maltreatment and the
Behaviour and Development of 6 years-old Children from Low-income Urban Families: A
Cumulative Risk Model. Child abuse and neglect 24,587-598.
Krause,M.V and Mahan L.K(1979) Food nutrition and diet therapy. W.B. Sanders Company Press,
Philadelphia.
Liu, J; Raine, A; Venables, P.H; Dalais, C; and Mednick, S.A (2003): Malnutrition at Age 3 years and

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Vol.3, No.12, 2013

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Lower Cognitive Ability at Age 11years. ā€˜Independence from Psychosocial Adversityā€™.Archive of
pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 157,593-609.
WHO (2000) : Nutrition for Health and Development. World Heath Organization, Geneva.
Toriola, A.L (1990) : Anthropometric Assessment of Nutritional Status of Nigerian Children.Tropical
and Geographical Medicine. Vol 42,pp337-341

Table 1: Socio-demographic and health characteristics of female parents and their households.
Variables
Motherā€™s Age
20-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-69
Total
Educational Background
No formal education (0)
Primary Education (1-6)
Secondary Education (7-12)
Tertiary Education (13-16)
Total
Household size
1-5
6-10
>10
Total
No of Children
1-3
4-6
>6
Total
Motherā€™s Weight
<20
20-39
40-59
>60
Total
Motherā€™s Height
<1m
1.1-1.5m
>1.5m
Total
Land Ownership
<1Ha
1-1.5Ha
>1.5Ha
Total

Frequency

Percentage

44
76
28
17
10
175

25
43
16
10
06
100.00

43
74
34
24
175

25
42
19
14
100

120
55
0
175

69
31
0
100

123
52
0
175

70
30
0
100.0

0
7
116
52
175

0.00
4.0
66
30
100

0
143
32
175

0.00
82.0
18.0
100

73
87
15
175

42
50
8
100
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Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online)
Vol.3, No.12, 2013

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Table 2: Anthropometric measures distribution of children within the 5-11 years age
bracket by sex in Ado Ekiti (2010)
Indices

Male

Female

Weight-for-age

Frequency

percentage

Frequency

percentage

Below 1.01

-

-

1

1.10

1.01-2.0

11

13.10

12

13.8

2.01-3.0

58

69.04

46

50.55

3.01-4.0

15

17.86

28

30.77

Above 4.0

-

-

4

4.40

Total

84

100.00

91

100.00

Male

Female

Weight-for-height

Frequency

percentage

Frequency

percentage

Below 10.01

2

2.38

3

3.30

10.01-15.0

16

19.05

15

16.48

15.01-20.0

47

55.95

37

40.66

20.01-25.0

15

17.86

24

26.37

Above 25.0

4

4.76

12

13.19

Total

84

100.00

91

100.00

Male
Height-for-age

Frequency

Female
percentage

Below 0.09

-

-

0.09andbelow0.12

11

0.12andbelow0.15

Frequency

percentage

1

1.10

13.10

19

20.88

29

34.52

40

43.96

0.15andbelow0.18

20

23.81

6

6.59

Above 0.18

24

28.57

25

27.47

Total

84

100.00

91

100.00

Male
Body mass index

Frequency

Female
percentage

Frequency

percentage

No more than 5

-

-

1

1.10

5 and below 10

1

1.19

2

2.20

10 and below 15

32

38.10

33

36.26

15 and below 20

42

50.00

46

50.55

20 and below 25

6

7.14

6

6.59

25 and below 30

3

3.57

2

2.20

Above 30

-

-

1

1.10

100.00

91

100.00

Total

84

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Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
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Vol.3, No.12, 2013

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Table 3: Contingency analysis of the effect of living condition of the households on the
childrenā€™s (5-11years old) anthropometric measures
Childrenā€™s Body Mass Indices

Living Condition Not more than 15 Below 15 Above 30 Total

Healthy

52

53

01

106

Unhealthy

16

49

0

65

Total

68
102
01
Children's weight-for-height measures

171

Living condition

Not more than 15

Below 15

Above 30

Total

Healthy

28

77

01

106

Unhealthy

05

58

02

65

Total

33

135

03

171

Notes: Chi-square value ā‡’ 11.019a; Asymptotic Significance = 0.004. Estimate Significant at
the 1 percent level.

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Table 4: Regression analysis of the determinants of various anthropometric measures
for primary school children in Ado-Ekiti.
Independent variables (body mass indices)

Children 5-11 years old

Constant

16.032 * * *

Age

-

Farm size

-

Frequency of illness

3.692 * * *

( 22.86 )

( 4.308 )

Appearance

āˆ’ 5.702 * *
( āˆ’2.354 )

2

Adjusted R

0.090

F
Independent variables (weight-for-age indices)
Constant

9.559***
Children 5- 11 years old

3.094 * * *
(11.599 )

āˆ’ 0.102 * * *

Child age

( āˆ’4.331)

Other household

2.65 X 10 āˆ’6 * *
( 2.306 )

Membersā€™ income (ohh)

8.04 X 10 āˆ’2 * *

Adjusted R2
F
Independent variables (weight for height indices)
Constant

0.128
9.541***
Children 5- 11 years

Childā€™s age

0.977 ***

( 2.061)

8.654 * * *
( 7.342 )
( 7.366 )

ā€™

Other s

income

2.37 x10 āˆ’5 * * *
( 2.066 )

Illness

1.025 * * *
( 2.839 )

Living condition

1.652 * * *
( 2.678 )

Other household income

1.36 X 10 āˆ’5 **

Adjusted R2
F
Independent variables (height for age indices)
Constant

0.303
16.111***
Children 5-11 years

( 2.065 )

0.268 * * *
( 33.840 )

Childā€™s age

āˆ’ 1.5 X 10 āˆ’2 * * *
( āˆ’16.084 )

Other household income

8.97 X 10 āˆ’8 * * *
( 2.027 )

Adjusted R2
0.603
F
132.884***
Notes: *** = Coefficient significant at 1%; ** = Coefficient Significant at 5%; * = Coefficient Significant at
10%; - Independent Variable did not enter the solution model

32
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Determinants of children's nutrition among Nigerian farmers

  • 1. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org Determinants of Children's Nutritional Status among Primary School Children of Farming Households in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A.B Sekumade (Phd.). Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Ekiti State University, Nigeria. E-mail: bosedeseku@yahoo.com ABSTRACT This paper assessed nutritional status and their determinants among primary school children of farming households in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. One hundred and seventy five (175) female parents in farming occupation were randomly drawn and surveyed for twelve weeks. Preliminary analysis indicated that majority (i.e. 67 percent) of the mothers have their ages falling between 20 and 40 years and had children within the 511year old age bracket, who were in primary schools in the community. Anthropometric measures indicated that 69percent of the male children and about 51percent of female children had weight-for-age indices within the range 2.01 and 3.01kg/yr. About 56percent of male children and about 41percent of female children posted weight-for-height measures of between 5.01 and 20.0kg/m. Also, about 35percent and 44percent of male and female children, respectively, had height-for-age indices within the 0.12 and below 0.15m/yr. Estimates of the body mass indices (BMI) revealed that 50percent and about 51percent, respectively, of the children fall within the 15.0 and below 20.0kg/m2. Contingency analysis revealed that mothersā€™ educational status and mothersā€™ appearance, childā€™s sex, and living condition/environment of the household showed significant associations (P<0.10) with indicators of nutritional status (i.e. weight-for-height, weight-for-age, and BMI) of primary school children in Ado-Ekiti. Regression analysis confirmed that frequency of reporting maladies/visitations to medical facilities had positive influence on BMI. On the contrary, childā€™s physical appearance had negative effect on the weight-for-age indices while the size of the household and incomes of other household members had positive influence on the weight-for-age indices. Similarly, childā€™s age, household size, frequency of illness, living condition, and incomes of other household members influenced positively childrenā€™s weight-for-height indices. Childā€™s age affected childrenā€™s height-for-age indices negatively while incomes of other household members influenced childā€™s height-for-age measures positively. The implication of some salient incidences such as obesity, stunting and wasting among primary school children of farming households in Ado-Ekiti are examined, and useful suggestions proffered. Keywords: Children, Nutritional Status, Farming households and Anthropometrics. 1. INTRODUCTION Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development across the entire life span. From the earliest stages of foetal development, at birth, through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood and old age, proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance and productivity, health and well-being (FAO/WHO, 1992; WHO, 2000). Malnutrition, and in particular protein-energy malnutrition, in young and growing children have become one of the serious health problems in Nigeria. Malnutrition is regarded as a complex outcome with multiple causation. It can have adverse effects on the physical and mental development of growing children. Moreover, since growth disorder in human being sometimes result from poor nutrition and other environmental upsets, growth surveys and empirical growth indicators would prove quite essential particularly in monitoring the nutritional outcomes and status of young children in any community. Evidence has shown that 4% of the total children born in developing countries die of malnutrition before they are five years old (Toriola, 1990); and that the most affected are usually the children of illiterate parents in low socio-economic brackets that have low purchasing power in the economy (Adekunle, 2005). Quite a number of studies have shown that poor feeding and or recurrent infections as a result of poverty leads to stunted growth and delayed mental development. It has also been shown that physical growth and cognitive development in children are faster during early years of life and that by the age of four years, 50% of the adult intellectual capacity has been attained and before thirteen years, 92% of adult intellectual capacity is attained (Kerr & Black, 2000; Ivanovic et al., 2002; Chang et al., 2002; Braveman & Gruskin, 2003; Liu et al., 2003). Empirical analysis of nutritional outcomes in children involves the examination of individual childrenā€™s physical condition, growth and development, behaviour, the urinary, blood and tissue levels of essential and other trace elements (or nutrients), and the quality and quantity of nutrients intake (Krause and Mahan, 1979). 24
  • 2. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org According to Fisher and Fungua (1979), the main purpose of most nutritional studies is to locate persons and groups (including children) whose nutritional status ought to be improved upon. Findings from such studies can lead to the development and implementation of sound nutritional and/or educational programmes, which will help people to improve their diets and food habits. Such studies can also confirm the relationships between the food consumption habits/behaviour, and the nutritional outcomes/status for those who make decisions about food production and consumption so as to meet, as well as to improve upon the peopleā€™s nutritional needs at various levels and ages in Nigeria. Childhood undernutrition remains a public health problem in Nigeria as the status did not improve substantially during the last two decades. The implications of this unrelenting situation for the well being of children and the development of the nation as a whole are unacceptable because undernutrition contributes to the high rates of morbidity, disability and mortality among children (WHO;2000). In addition, undernutrition constrains peopleā€™s ability to fulfil their potential as it is also associated with impaired growth, mental development and school performance, reduced adult size and reduced work capacity, which in turn impacts on economic productivity at the national level (Hart and Atinmo; 2003). Generally, children constitute the most nutritionally vulnerable group in any community. In this study, it is hypothesized that children from farming families are at special nutritional risk, and this justifies the need for an investigation of the underlying causes of malnutrition in children living under such circumstances. The main focus of the study therefore is to analyse, identify and to quantify the effect of major factors that determine nutritional status of children based on some morbidity conditions that can have effect on the nutritional status of children ages 5-11years in Nigeria, using some anthropometric parameters such as underweight (weight for age), wasting (weight for height) and stunting (age for height). To achieve the objective of the study, three main indicators of child malnutrition were used; stunting, underweight and wasting. By taking anthropometric measurements of sex, age, height and weight, and using them to generate Z-scores, the study estimated the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting among primary school children of selected farming households. In the regression analysis, the three malnutrition indices were regressed against several child-specific, households and socioeconomic variables. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 The Study Data and Collection Method The study was conducted in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, anthropometric data on primary school children were collected in a survey investigation. The data include those on household socio-economic status, as well as health, sanitary status and other conditions in the living environment of the farming households in the study area. For the purpose of the survey, structured questionnaires were prepared and administered on parents of primary school children living in farming households in Ado-Ekiti. The survey spanned a period of three months and information on the height, weight, age, sex, visits to hospitals/clinics, outward health appearance of children between 5 and 11 years old, born and/or being raised in a farm family/household in Ado-Ekiti were obtained. Similarly, information was obtained on the mothers of target children in the farming households covered in the survey. In addition, data were obtained on the composition, income, religion and occupational status of respondent households in Ado-Ekiti. Additional information was collected on farming householdsā€™ access to safe water, and the type and location of living quarters, waste disposal habits and practices, and food storage. Effort was also made to confirm any incidence of epidemic within respondentsā€™ households in the last five years. Anthropometric measurements (heights and weights) of children and their parents were measured using standard techniques (WHO, 1983). All measurements were performed between 8.00 and 12.00hr. Height was measured to the nearest millimetre, with a portable direct reading stadiometer while the subjects were shoeless. Body weight was measured with light clothing and shoes off, using Seca digital scale (German) to the nearest 100g. The weight-for-height z-score (an index of body wasting) and height-for-age z-score (an index of stunting) were determined as nutritional indicator for present and past nutritional status respectively. 2.2 Method of Data Analysis Both descriptive and quantitative analysis was carried out in the study. Descriptive analytical tools such as frequency tables, ratios and percentages, were used to describe the householdsā€™ socio-demographic characteristics. These tools were, in addition, employed to present indices of child malnutrition and the female parentsā€™ health/nutritional status as well as to present information on some basic environmental situation and sanitary status of the target households in the study area. 25
  • 3. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org The quantitative analysis that was carried out in the study is in three parts. The first part entailed the construction of a body mass index (BMI) and some other health and nutritional indicators for children (5-11 year old) and their maternal parents. With these ratios/indicators, the incidence of under or mal-nutrition was determined among children and their female parents living as farm families in the study area. In addition, appropriate standards were used to establish the nutritional status (that is, cases of obesity, underweight, stunting, and wasting) of the target children in the study area. As a second part to the quantitative analysis, several contingency tables were prepared in the study. The Chi-square analysis was carried out so as to determine the significance of the associations between several householdsā€™ socio-economic and environmental variables, and the nutritional/health status and indicators for children and female parents living as farm families in the study area. The regression analysis formed the final aspect of the quantitative analysis that was carried out in the study. In this regard, the regression equation of the form below was fitted by the ordinary least square (OLS) estimation technique to the study data. Vi = f (X1i, X2i, X3i, X4i,Xni). ......... (1) Where; Vi is the indicator of the nutritional outcomes of the ith child in the study area; X1i is the educational attainment (in years) of the ith female parent in the study area; X2i is the income (N) of the ith mother in the study area; X3i is the household size of the ith farm family in the study area; X4i is a dummy variable for the living condition of the ith farm family with study area (1 = hygienic environment; 0 = otherwise); X5i is the frequency of visit by the ith farm child to health institutions in the last five years in the study area; X6i is a dummy variable for the access of the ith farm family to safe water and some other conveniences of living in the study area (1 = access; 0 = otherwise); X7i is the age of the ith farm child in primary school in the study area; X8i is the land holding (Ha) of the ith farm family in the study area; X9i is a dummy variable for the incidence of epidemic in the ith farm family in the study area (1 = record of epidemics; 0 = otherwise). 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Socio-demographic and health characteristics of female parents and their households. Table1 shows the descriptive analysis carried out in the study area which indicated that, majority (i.e. 68 percent) of the mothers have their ages falling between 20 and 40 years. The mothers were mostly of the Christian faith. Only 44 percent were Moslems while none of them practiced the traditional religion.Three quarters (i.e. 75 percent) of the sampled mothers are literate. Of this proportion, however, 42 percent had between one and six years of education. Only 25 percent among the respondent female parents in Ado-Ekiti had no formal education. The bulk (i.e. 69 percent) of the respondent mothers had between one and five members residing within their households. None of the female parents however, had more than 10 members residing within their households. Further evidence revealed that majority (i.e. 50 percent) of the mothers reside within households with ownership of income ā€“ generating asset (i.e. land of at least 1.5 Ha in size.). 70 percent of the mothers had between one and three children. None, however, was found to have more than six children living within the household. Also, majority (i.e. 66 percent) of the mothers had their individual weights falling between 40 and less than 60kg. Besides, 30 percent of the mothers weighed over 60kg while none of them had their individual weights falling below 20kg. Almost all the mothers posted height measurements that were at least 1.5m. The mothers were thus predominantly of average-to-tall heights in the study area. 3.2 Anthropometric measures distibution for Nutritional outcomes among school- age children (5-11 years old) in Ado-Ekiti Tables 2 provides the nutritional status indicators for children within the 5-11 years age bracket by sex in Ado-Ekiti. According to Table 2, there were more female children (i.e. 91) than male children (i.e. 84) within the 5-11 year age bracket among the study sample. Further, evidence revealed that the bulk (i.e. about 69 percent) of the male children within the age bracket had their weight-for-age indices falling between 2.01 and 3.00. Similarly, the bulk (i.e. about 51 percent) of the female children of the same age bracket had their weight-for-age indices between 2.01 and 3.00. While 35 percent of the female children had their weight-for-age indices above 3.00, only about 18 percent of the male children had their weight-for-age indices above 3.00. Consequently, 26
  • 4. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org within the 5-11 year age category, the male children are likely to suffer global malnutrition (i.e. stunting and wasting) than the female children. The weight-for-height indices for male and female children for this age bracket, revealed that about 56 percent of the male children and about 41 percent of the female children had their weight-for-height indices between 15.01 and 20.00 brackets. However, while about 23 percent of the male children had their weight-forheight indices above 20.00, about 40 percent of the female children had their weight-for-height measures above 20.00. The incidence of acute malnutrition (i.e. wasting) is thus likely to be more among the male children than among the female children of the same age bracket. Table 2 further provides the distribution of children by their height-for-age indices. The bulk of both the male children (i.e. above 35 percent) and the female children (i.e. about 44 percent) had their height-for-age indices between 0.12 and below 0.15. However, while only 34 percent of the female children had their heightfor-age indices above 0.15, fifty-two (52) percent of male children had their height-for-age indices above 0.15. Consequently, the male children in the study sample are most likely to suffer from stunting (or chronic malnutrition) than the female children. The body mass indices for the children presented in Table 2, revealed that half of both the male children (50 percent) and female children (about 51 percent) had a body mass indices that fall within the 15 and below 20 category. Further, approximately equal proportions of male and female children (i.e. 89 percent and about 90 percent, respectively) had their body mass indices below 20. Consequently, sizeable proportions of both male and female children between 5 and 11 years old in the study sample are underweight. Also, while about 4 percent of the male children were overweight (i.e. 25 and below 30), only 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively, of the female children were overweight (i.e. 25 and below 30) and obese (i.e. above 30) in the study sample. 3.3 Contingency analysis of major factors influencing nutritional outcomes The result of contingency analysis of the salient factors influencing the nutritional status of children between 5 and 11years old in Ado-Ekiti are presented in Tables 3, empirical evidence showed that all the relationships were significant at the 10 percent level. For children between 5 and 11years old, the hygienic status of the dwelling environment influence children body mass indices as well as their weight-for-height measures. 3.4 Socio-economic and environmental determinants of nutritional outcomes Table 4 presents the results of the stepwise (ordinary least squares) regression analysis of the effects of household and environmental variables on childrenā€™s (i.e. 5 to 11 years old) nutritional outcomes in Ado-Ekiti. It is shown that, for children 5 to 11 years old, the more paled a childā€™s physical appearance and the higher the child frequency of visitation to health/medical facilities, the higher the childā€™s body mass index. As such, visitations to health facilities, as well as the outward paleness and sickly appearance of children between 5 and 11 years can be expected to compel drastic improvement in their nutritional status, and hence, in their body mass indices. The results of the analysis of the determinants of the childā€™s weight-for-height indices are also provided in Table 4. For children 5 to11 years old, the older the children, the lower the childrenā€™s weight-for-age indices. However, the larger the size of the household, and the larger the income of other members living in farming households in the study area, the better the childrenā€™s nutritional status. Large households and supplementary incomes within the households in Ado-Ekiti should be expected to improve childrenā€™s exposure to supplementary meals including snacks in between normal meals. Expectedly, such exposures should improve a childā€™s nutritional status. The table also provides the determinants of childrenā€™s weight-for-height indices in the study area. The childā€™s age indicated a positive influence on the weight-for-height indices of children between 5 and 11 years old. In addition, the motherā€™s income and supplementary income contributions by other household members, and incidence of illness and serenity/hygiene of the living environment had a positive effect on their weight-forheight indices. Ageing among children - 5 to 11 years old - would improve care and nutrition for children, and hence reduce the likelihood of wasting (or acute malnutrition) among children. Increase in incomes of mothers, and in supplementary income contributions by other household members would raise the childrenā€™s weight-forheight indices and lower the incidence of acute malnutrition. Improvement in the living environment and frequency of maladies can be expected to improve child nutrition and health status indicator in the study area. Finally, the results of the analysis of the determinants of the height-for-age indices for children in AdoEkiti, revealed that for children 5 to 11 years old, the older they become, the lower their height-for-age indices, and hence, the likelihood of revealing chronic malnutrition (or stunting). Moreover, supplementary income contributions by other household members would improve childrenā€™s height-for-age indices, and reduce the possibility of showing any stunted growth. 27
  • 5. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org 4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION The primary objective of this study was to analyse the socio-economic and environmental determinants of nutritional outcomes in primary school children of farming households in Ado-Ekiti. In order to achieve this objective, one hundred and seventy five female parents of the target children were drawn from the seven traditional quarters in the town and surveyed over a period of three months. The anthropometric data collected were analysed using both descriptive and quantitative analytical tools. Results indicated that the majority of the mothers had between one and three children living, within the households. Empirical analysis of the nutritional outcomes among school children in Ado-Ekiti revealed that the male children are likely to suffer global malnutrition than the female children. Also, the incidence of acute malnutrition is likely to be more among the male children than among the female children of the same age bracket. Furthermore, the male children in the study sample are most likely to suffer from chronic malnutrition than the female children. According to the estimates of the body mass indices, sizeable proportion of both male and female children between 5 and 11years old in the study sample were underweight. The result of the contingency analysis revealed that the hygienic status of the dwelling environment influenced the childrenā€™s body mass indices and their weight-for-height measures. Furthermore, regression analysis confirmed that the more paled the childā€™s physical appearance, and the higher the childā€™s frequency of visitation to health or medical facilities, the higher the body mass index. The older the children become the lower their weight-for-age indices. The bigger the size of the household, and the larger the income earned by other members of the household, the better the nutritional outcomes among the children. The childā€™s age indicated a positive influence on the weight-for-height indices. Again, the motherā€™s income and supplementary income contributions by other household member, and incidence of illness and the nature of serenity/hygiene of the living environment had a positive effect on the weight-forheight indices for the children. Also, ageing would improve care and nutrition for children. Specifically, empirical analysis confirmed that the older the children, the lower their height-for-age indices. Moreover, supplementary income contributions by other household members would improve childrenā€™s height-for-age indices in the study area. Empirical findings suggested that male children in Ado-Ekiti are prone to incidences of global malnutrition (i.e. underweight), acute malnutrition (i.e. wasting) and chronic malnutrition (i.e. stunting). Improvement in the hygiene status of the living compound, better earning opportunities for mothers, and more access to supplementary incomes by other household members can improve nutritional outcomes among children as well as reduce paleness and frequency of visitations to health facilities. Conclusively, the study revealed that the proportion of malnourished and intellectually deprived children among REFERENCES Adekunle, L.(2005): The Effect of Family Structure on a Sample of Malnourished Urban Nigerian Children. Food and nutrition bulletin. 26, 230-233 Braveman,P and Gruskin,S (2003): Poverty, Equity, Human right and Health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 81, 539-545. Chang, S.M; Walker,S.P; Grantham-MCGregor,S; Powell, C.A.(2000): Early Chid Stunting and Later Behaviour and School Achievement. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 43,775-783. FAO/WHO,(1992) : ā€˜Nutrition and Developmentā€™ A Global Assessment. International Conference on nutrition, Rome. Pp25 Fisher, W and Fungua (1979) Principle of Nutrition. John Wiley and Sons, New York. Hart, A.D and Atinmo, T. (1982): The assessment of nutrition status of urban and rural school children in River State of Nigeria. Nig .J, Nutr. Sci., Vol. 3, pp. 141-153. Ivanovic, D,M; Leiva,B.P; Perez, H.T; Inzunza,N.B; Almagia,A.F; Toro, T.D and Bosch, E(2002): Nutritional Status, Brain Development and Scholastic Achievement of Children High School Graduates from High and Low Intellectual Quotient and Socio Economic Status. British Journal of Nutrition 87,81-92. Kerr, M.A; Black, M.M and Krishnakumar, A (2000): Failure-to-Thrive, Maltreatment and the Behaviour and Development of 6 years-old Children from Low-income Urban Families: A Cumulative Risk Model. Child abuse and neglect 24,587-598. Krause,M.V and Mahan L.K(1979) Food nutrition and diet therapy. W.B. Sanders Company Press, Philadelphia. Liu, J; Raine, A; Venables, P.H; Dalais, C; and Mednick, S.A (2003): Malnutrition at Age 3 years and 28
  • 6. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org Lower Cognitive Ability at Age 11years. ā€˜Independence from Psychosocial Adversityā€™.Archive of pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 157,593-609. WHO (2000) : Nutrition for Health and Development. World Heath Organization, Geneva. Toriola, A.L (1990) : Anthropometric Assessment of Nutritional Status of Nigerian Children.Tropical and Geographical Medicine. Vol 42,pp337-341 Table 1: Socio-demographic and health characteristics of female parents and their households. Variables Motherā€™s Age 20-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-69 Total Educational Background No formal education (0) Primary Education (1-6) Secondary Education (7-12) Tertiary Education (13-16) Total Household size 1-5 6-10 >10 Total No of Children 1-3 4-6 >6 Total Motherā€™s Weight <20 20-39 40-59 >60 Total Motherā€™s Height <1m 1.1-1.5m >1.5m Total Land Ownership <1Ha 1-1.5Ha >1.5Ha Total Frequency Percentage 44 76 28 17 10 175 25 43 16 10 06 100.00 43 74 34 24 175 25 42 19 14 100 120 55 0 175 69 31 0 100 123 52 0 175 70 30 0 100.0 0 7 116 52 175 0.00 4.0 66 30 100 0 143 32 175 0.00 82.0 18.0 100 73 87 15 175 42 50 8 100 29
  • 7. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org Table 2: Anthropometric measures distribution of children within the 5-11 years age bracket by sex in Ado Ekiti (2010) Indices Male Female Weight-for-age Frequency percentage Frequency percentage Below 1.01 - - 1 1.10 1.01-2.0 11 13.10 12 13.8 2.01-3.0 58 69.04 46 50.55 3.01-4.0 15 17.86 28 30.77 Above 4.0 - - 4 4.40 Total 84 100.00 91 100.00 Male Female Weight-for-height Frequency percentage Frequency percentage Below 10.01 2 2.38 3 3.30 10.01-15.0 16 19.05 15 16.48 15.01-20.0 47 55.95 37 40.66 20.01-25.0 15 17.86 24 26.37 Above 25.0 4 4.76 12 13.19 Total 84 100.00 91 100.00 Male Height-for-age Frequency Female percentage Below 0.09 - - 0.09andbelow0.12 11 0.12andbelow0.15 Frequency percentage 1 1.10 13.10 19 20.88 29 34.52 40 43.96 0.15andbelow0.18 20 23.81 6 6.59 Above 0.18 24 28.57 25 27.47 Total 84 100.00 91 100.00 Male Body mass index Frequency Female percentage Frequency percentage No more than 5 - - 1 1.10 5 and below 10 1 1.19 2 2.20 10 and below 15 32 38.10 33 36.26 15 and below 20 42 50.00 46 50.55 20 and below 25 6 7.14 6 6.59 25 and below 30 3 3.57 2 2.20 Above 30 - - 1 1.10 100.00 91 100.00 Total 84 30
  • 8. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org Table 3: Contingency analysis of the effect of living condition of the households on the childrenā€™s (5-11years old) anthropometric measures Childrenā€™s Body Mass Indices Living Condition Not more than 15 Below 15 Above 30 Total Healthy 52 53 01 106 Unhealthy 16 49 0 65 Total 68 102 01 Children's weight-for-height measures 171 Living condition Not more than 15 Below 15 Above 30 Total Healthy 28 77 01 106 Unhealthy 05 58 02 65 Total 33 135 03 171 Notes: Chi-square value ā‡’ 11.019a; Asymptotic Significance = 0.004. Estimate Significant at the 1 percent level. 31
  • 9. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.3, No.12, 2013 www.iiste.org Table 4: Regression analysis of the determinants of various anthropometric measures for primary school children in Ado-Ekiti. Independent variables (body mass indices) Children 5-11 years old Constant 16.032 * * * Age - Farm size - Frequency of illness 3.692 * * * ( 22.86 ) ( 4.308 ) Appearance āˆ’ 5.702 * * ( āˆ’2.354 ) 2 Adjusted R 0.090 F Independent variables (weight-for-age indices) Constant 9.559*** Children 5- 11 years old 3.094 * * * (11.599 ) āˆ’ 0.102 * * * Child age ( āˆ’4.331) Other household 2.65 X 10 āˆ’6 * * ( 2.306 ) Membersā€™ income (ohh) 8.04 X 10 āˆ’2 * * Adjusted R2 F Independent variables (weight for height indices) Constant 0.128 9.541*** Children 5- 11 years Childā€™s age 0.977 *** ( 2.061) 8.654 * * * ( 7.342 ) ( 7.366 ) ā€™ Other s income 2.37 x10 āˆ’5 * * * ( 2.066 ) Illness 1.025 * * * ( 2.839 ) Living condition 1.652 * * * ( 2.678 ) Other household income 1.36 X 10 āˆ’5 ** Adjusted R2 F Independent variables (height for age indices) Constant 0.303 16.111*** Children 5-11 years ( 2.065 ) 0.268 * * * ( 33.840 ) Childā€™s age āˆ’ 1.5 X 10 āˆ’2 * * * ( āˆ’16.084 ) Other household income 8.97 X 10 āˆ’8 * * * ( 2.027 ) Adjusted R2 0.603 F 132.884*** Notes: *** = Coefficient significant at 1%; ** = Coefficient Significant at 5%; * = Coefficient Significant at 10%; - Independent Variable did not enter the solution model 32
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