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Research Journal of Medical Sciences

ISSN: Online 1993-6095
ISSN: Print 1815-9346
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Iron Status, Dietary Practices and Related Knowledge among School Age Children and Their Caregivers in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria

O. Ukegbu Patricia and R. Aderibigbe Olaide
Page: 212-218 | Received 21 Sep 2022, Published online: 21 Sep 2022

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https://doi.org/10.36478/rjmsci.2017.212.218

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Abstract

Iron deficiency and its anaemia is a serious and wide spread public health challenge with multifactorial causes. The present study examined the iron status, dietary practices and related knowledge among school age children and their caregivers in public primary schools in Ubakala communities, Umuahia Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design using 261 school age (5-11 years) children in three public primary schools was employed. A random sampling technique was used to select the schools and the children in each of the selected school. Validated questionnaire was used to elicit information from parents on socioeconomic characteristics, dietary practices and knowledge of iron intake. Biochemical analysis of iron was carried out on blood samples of 20% of the children using standard procedures. Thirty percent of the children were anaemic (Hb<13 g dL–1); dietary intakes were adequate in terms of frequency of diets (84.7% ate thrice daily) but inadequate in terms of quality among the children. Rice, yam, garri and fufu (processed from cassava) were mostly consumed with vegetable soups; snacking was common (50%) among the children. Mothers/caregivers (36.2%) had poor knowledge. Iron deficiency anaemia prevalence was high in this community; dietary intakes were adequate in terms of frequency of diets in majority of the children but inadequate in terms of quality, especially dietary iron intake. Knowledge of dietary iron intake was low among the mothers/caregivers. There is need to scale up appropriate interventions to address iron deficiency anaemia challenge.

How to cite this article:

O. Ukegbu Patricia and R. Aderibigbe Olaide. Iron Status, Dietary Practices and Related Knowledge among School Age Children and Their Caregivers in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/rjmsci.2017.212.218
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/rjmsci.2017.212.218