Nutritional Status of Boarding and Non-Boarding Children in Selected Schools in the Accra Metropolis

Abstract

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in developing countries. Children are at high nutritional risk of being malnourished because of their physiological demands at this age. However, the nutritional status of school age children is poorly documented in Ghana. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the nutritional status of boarding and non-boarding pupils aged 8 to 10 years in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 124 children in three private schools which have boarding facilities (optional) in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Dietary intakes of children between the ages of 8 and 10 years were assessed using a two-day 24 hour recall.  Weight and height measurements were taken. WHO Anthroplus software was used to determine WAZ, HAZ and BAZ. Ghanaian food composition tables were used to calculate the nutritional components of foods eaten by subjects. T-tests were used to analyse differences between variables. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, overweight and obesity among the children were 0.8%, 0.8%, 12.1% and 11.3% respectively. The total energy and nutrient intake of calcium among children (both boarders and non-boarders) was inadequate. There was no significant difference in the nutritional status and mean nutrient intake between boarding and non-boarding children. Nutritional status between boarders and non boarders were found to be similar.

Key words: School children, boarders, non-boarders, Ghanaian, nutritional status