Nutritional status of nursery school children: a comparison between Lagos State (Southern Nigeria) and Jos, Plateau State (Northern Nigeria)

This comparative study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of preschool children in the Southern part of Nigeria (Lagos) and Jos, Plateau State in the Northern part of Nigeria. A total of 393 nursery school children aged 24-77 months in 5 schools (3 in Jos, 2 in Lagos) were randomly selected by multistage sampling. Anthropometric data (height, weight and age) were taken from the subjects and dietary information, weaning and breastfeeding history and general socio economic data were obtained from the parents by administering questionnaires. Weight/Height Z-score (WHZ) differed significantly between Jos (3.0%) and Lagos (11.6%), while weight/age (WAZ) was found to have the same prevalence rate in both locations (2.5%) each. This WAZ score is the normal expected prevalence in a standard population of children. Height/Age Z-scores (HAZ) were not statistically different in both South and North, 2.5% HAZ < -2.0 SD in Jos and 0.0% HAZ < -2.0 SD in Lagos. The intestinal parasitosis rates in this study were as follows: in Jos, a 13.5% infection rate was found, and in Lagos, the infection rate was 8.8%.