Breakfast Eating Habits and Nutritional Status of Primary School Children in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This study was carried out to describe breakfast eating habits and nutritional status of primary school children in rural areas of Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving 358 primary school children (aged 6-11 years) randomly selected from 5 private primary schools in Anambra state. A pre-tested questionnaire on dietary habits, breakfast eating habits and content of breakfasts was used to collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi square. Results: The mean age of the children was 8.2±0.7years. The percentage of children who reported taking breakfast on the day of the study was 77.7%, while 71.2% ate breakfast 25 times per week. Those who skipped breakfast cited waking up late (48.8%) and lack of enough food at home (43.8%) as reasons for skipping breakfast. Breakfast was usually consumed at home by 90.6% of the children. Foods in the bread/cereal group (61.5%) and tea/cocoa beverages (59.7%) were commonly consumed for breakfast. The snacks brought to school were mainly pastry products (78.8%). The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting among the children were 15.9%, 27.4% and 20.7%, respectively. Those who consumed breakfast more than 5 times a week were more likely to have better weight-for-age status than their counterparts (X2=6.690;p=0.043) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Most of the children were reportedly used to having daily breakfast. However, there is a need to assess the nutritional quality and adequacy of breakfasts consumed by young children