Objective: To determine
the nutritional status of children
aged 0-35 months attending
day care centres in Port Harcourt
metropolis.
Methodology: A cross-sectional
descriptive survey approved by
the University of Port Harcourt
Research Ethics Committee, the
parents, Authorities of Day care
centres and National Association
of Proprietors of Private Schools,
was carried out between November
2011 and July 2012 in 200
day care centres in Port Harcourt
metropolis. The centres were selected
using stratified multistage
random sampling technique. At
each day care 10 children (5
males and 5 females) selected
randomly from those who met the
inclusion criteria were recruited.
With parental cooperation, each
child's socio-demographic data,
nutritional history and anthropometric
measurements were obtained.
Data were analysed using
SPSS version 20. Statistical significance
was set at p<0.05.
Results: Complete data for analysis
were available for 1541 children
aged 5-34months (mean
23.78 ± 7.04 months, median 25
months and modal 24 months)
with 110(7.2%) children aged less
than 12 months and 283(18%) less
than 18 months. They consisted of
766 (49.7%) males and 775
(50.3%) females. Most children
had normal nutritional status using
the various indices but 46 (3%)
children were underweight, 85
(5.5%) stunted, 109 (7.1%) wasted
and 328 (21.3%) overweight. The
mean Mid Upper Arm Circumference
(MUAC) was 15.95 ± 1.698
cm with29 (2%) children having
MUAC below 115mm.
Conclusion: Majority of the day
care attendees were well nourished.
However, the high prevalence
of overweight malnutrition is
of serious concern in view of its
associated long term morbidity and
the need for effective interventions
to reduce this risk.