admin DOI:
Keywords:
Nutritional status, Dietary habit, Participant, Diary product, Pupil
Abstract
The dietary patterns analysis give a good impression of the food consumption habits within a certain population. Poor dietary habits of primary school pupils had been reported as a lifestyle change in school. The study aim is to determine the dietary habits and nutritional status of selected primary schools participated within Dutsin-Ma local Government. This study applied a cross-sectional survey observed in Dutsin-Ma community. The volunteered participant were 148 primary school children. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to determine the eating patterns of the children. The determination of nutritional status of the children used Anthropometric measurements (Height, Weight, Head and Waist circumference). The age group between 5-10 years of the three different school participants were 79.2%, 70%, and 76% which constitute the higher age percentage of the participants. Their breakfast composed of Tea/Pap and Bread (54.2%, 68% and 50%), and the higher Lunch percentage belong to the category of Rice/Spaghetti/Macaroni (62.5%, 80% and 96%), meanwhile, the highest dinner percentage (54.2% and 48%) belong to the category of Rice/spaghetti/Macaroni for the first (Girls primary school) participant and second (Federal University Dutsin-Ma (Fudma) staff school) participant while the category of millet/maize swallowed had the highest percentage of 64% for Yerima primary school. All the participants dairy product consumption was yoghurt (68.7%, 64% and 54%). The nutritional status of the participants were also evaluated which indicated that there was significant increase in mean height and head circumference for the male of both Yerima and Fudma staff school participant but the female had significantly increased mean weight and waist circumference. The study showed that the participants had partial or absent of milk, cheese, or butter intake, which are important sources of calcium and other essential nutrients. It is important that parents or guardian promote healthy eating habits of their children, which shall improve their health outcome.
