Assessment of Dietary Intake of School Age Children (7-12 years) in Selected Urban and Rural Schools in Ogun State, Nigeria

1Quadri, Jelili A., 2Oladunjoye Zenab M., 3Onabanjo Oluseye O.,3Sanni, Silifat A.

Authors

1Quadri, Jelili A., 2Oladunjoye Zenab M., 3Onabanjo Oluseye O.,3Sanni, Silifat A. 1Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria 2Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Nigeria 3Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria Author

Abstract

This study was to assess the dietary intake of the school age children (7-12 years) in selected urban and rural schools in Ogun state, Nigeria. Specifically, it determined socio-economic characteristics of school children’s parents in rural and urban local government areas (LGAs) in Ogun state, nutrient intakes of rural and urban school age children (7-12 years) in selected urban and rural schools, and relationship between socio-demographic status of the parents and the nutrient intake of the school age children. This study adopted survey research design. Two LGAs (urban and rural) were randomly selected in each of the three senatorial districts. Population was made up primary school children aged 7-12 years in the area of the study. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, means, standard deviations, and correlations. Results show that 36.5 percent of the respondents’ families earned less than two hundred thousand Naira annually. Also, 43.0 percent and 62.0 percent of the mothers had secondary and tertiary education, respectively. Dietary intake showed that energy intake was above 60 percent of required dietary allowance (RDA) for both sexes, while protein and fat intake for females in urban LGAs was above 80 percent of RDA. Some micronutrients were below 50 percent RDA (Vit A- 42.5% RDA, calcium – 45 percent RDA and iron – 48.9 percent RDA). The correlation shows a significant relationship between micronutrients and economic status because mothers’ education was related to vitamin A (p= 0.321) and vitamin B2 (p= 0.211) intake income was significantly related to irintake (p= 0.134). It was concluded that a significant relationship between socio-economic and dietary status. This means that poor economic status will eventually affect dietary intake, which in turn may result in poor nutritional status.