ASSESSMENT OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the nutritional status of primary school pupils in Egor LGA, Edo state. The study was guided by two objectives and one hypothesis. Eight (8) schools were purposively selected out of the sixteen (16) primary schools in Egor Local Government Area. The sample size for the study was two hundred and eighty-eight (288). This study assessed the nutritional status of primary school pupils in Egor LGA, Edo state. The study was guided by two objectives and one hypothesis. Eight (8) schools were purposively selected out of the sixteen (16) primary schools in Egor Local Government Area. The sample size for the study was two hundred and eighty-eight (288). The anthropometric measurement was used to calculate the BMI. Statistical analysis was done using frequency and percentage while independent t-test statistic was used to test the hypothesis of the study at 5% significance level. The anaysis showed that 25.35% of the pupils had normal nutritional status, while 74.65% are underweight ( malnutrition) but no overweight.  Forty percent (40%) of those that are underweight have mild underweight, 33% have moderate underweight and 27% have severe underweight. On the average, the primary school pupils surveyed have mild underweight. It was also found that there is a significant difference in the nutritional status of the pupils based on gender. Female pupils are more malnourished than the male pupils. The study recommended that more economic activities should be created in the local government to enable parents and guardians to work and earn wages or salaries so that they can feed their families and themselves adequately. Step-up nutrition education and sensitization, provision of quality diets as well as nutrition knowledge are imperatives to regulate and avert malnutrition among   children.