Factors Associated with the Nutritional Status of Schoolchildren in the Main City of Benin Republic, Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition has become a real concern today. It is a pathological condition resulting from the relative or absolute deficiency or excess of one or more essential nutrients and can occur through either clinical or anthropometric signs or physiological or biochemical analyses. General objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with and the extent of malnutrition in schoolchildren in Cotonou, the main city of Benin Republic. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in July 2016. It involved data collection regarding food and nutritional knowledge, nutritional habits and practices, physical activity level and health status which were obtained using survey research. The study took place in four schools from the Friendly School of Nutrition Initiative (FNSI) in Cotonou and focused on schoolchildren aged from eight to eleven (n = 182). Anthropometric data including weight and height were collected, BMI indices weight-for age and height-forage were calculated, making it thereby possible to assess the nutritional status of the schoolchildren. Factors associated with malnutrition were determined by logistic regression (p < 0.05). Results: From the outcome of this study, 13% of the children were wasted; 5% were overweight or obese. The proportion of stunting was 5% of which 1% were severely stunted. Thirty-four percent (34%) of schoolchildren were anemic. Factors associated with wasting in schoolchildren were age (OR = 4.99; p = 0.007), gender (OR = 0.36; p = 0.049) and maternal employment status (OR = 5.58; p = 0.021). Maternal employment status had a high influence on stunting (OR = 7.77; p = 0.033). Conclusion: It appears that the double burden of malnutrition is a reality in Cotonou’s schools and is characterized by coexistence of wasting, stunting, overweight and obesity in these schoolchildren. Efficient strategies are needed to improve the nutritional status of Cotonou’s schoolchildren.