Blood pressure profile and nutritional status of pupils benefitting from the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria

Ike Oluwapo Oyeneye Ajayi
Oyediran Emmanuel Oyewole
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Oluseye Olusegun Onabanjo
Morenikeji Folasade Olawuwo
Oluwadolapo Salisu
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Received: 3 February 2023 / Revised: 7 April 2023 / Accepted: 11 April 2023 / Published: 30 June 2023

Abstract

Introduction and aim. Childhood hypertension is an important precursor to adult hypertension. This study was used to investigate blood pressure level and nutritional status of pupils in public primary schools that were benefitting from the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria.

Material and methods. A cross-sectional study conducted among randomly selected 40 public primary schools where feeding programme was on-going in Oyo and Ogun States. Pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the pupils. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings were assessed using relevant tools.

Results. Some of the pupils (129; 41.6%) aged 10-15 years (p<0.0001) were stunted compared to those aged 5-9years (60; 11.3%). Undernutrition among pupils aged 10-15 years was 47.7%, which was significantly higher than (p<0.0001) among pupils aged 5-9 years, 18.5%. Overall, prevalence of hypertension among the pupils was 6.0%. No significant difference between male and female groups with regards to MUAC (p=0.115), blood pressure (p=0.302) and BMI-for-age (p=0.100). A significant association found between blood pressure and BMI-for-age (p=0.004).

Conclusion. Prevalence of blood pressure among the pupils assessed suggests more presence of high blood pressure in the population of primary school pupils. School feeding programme could be an avenue to improve nutritional indices among the pupils.

 

Cite

Ajayi IOO, Oyewole OE, Onabanjo OO, Olawuwo MF, Salisu O. Blood pressure profile and nutritional status of pupils benefitting from the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2023;21(2):289–297. doi: 10.15584/ ejcem.2023.2.17.

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