Evaluation of nutritional status and incidence of anaemia among primary school children in Lagos, Nigeria

A list of 53 primary schools was obtained from Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos State, Nigeria. Five primary schools were chosen from the list by numerical series which had a total of 4,515 pupils representing 13.6#pc of the total primary school population. Two hundred and fifty pupils were chosen randomly using Fisher#shYates random sample table. The following information enumerated from the study.

Chi-square value [P#lt.05] showed relationship between the PCV level and nutritional status of the children. Similar association also showed between the MCHC and nutritional status. Twenty four had their PCV less than 30 while 21 had the MCHC less than 33 which is an indicator of iron deficiency anaemia.

The stool examination showed a total of 180 [72#pc] pupils comprising of 89 [70.6#pc] males and 91 [73.4#pc] females had intestinal parasites. Ascaris and Trischuris and hookworm were commonly identified among the children. This also indicated a chi-square value [P#lt.05] association between the nutritional status and worm infestation.