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ABSTRACT
The nutritional status of school children influences their health, intellect, and subsequently their educational achievement. Yet, school children are not usually included in health and nutrition surveys. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 students from both public and private secondary school in Ovia North East Local Government Edo State to assess and compare the nutritional status of secondary school students and to determine the associated factors. Parental knowledge of nutrition, socio economic status of parent and type of school were measured using questionnaires.
The survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found that parental economic status influences students nutritional status. It was also discovered that students in private school are well fed than those in public school, hence differences in the academic achievement. The study also found that parental knowledge of nutrition influences nutritional status of students. The study concluded that the prevalence of undernutrition was higher among public school students than those attending private schools. Family income was negatively associated with undernutrition among private school children, as were preferring sweets and eating nutritious food.
The study recommended that similar survey be conducted to determine the magnitude and distribution of nutritional status and other probable causes of malnutrition. It also recommend that Survey of this nature should be carried out at regular intervals so that it will assist the stakeholder to formulate plan and policies for the betterment of nutritional status.
