Blood Pressure Profile of Apparently Healthy Primary School Children in Delta State, Nigeria: Impact of Social Factors and Anthropometric Variables

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, stunting among children is a major public health concern. It affects all aspects of children’s lives; its effects are not constrained to physical wellbeing but reach out to mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of stunting in some of the Egyptian governmental primary school children and its nutritional and socioeconomic determinants. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on primary school children aged 6–12 years. General demographic, socioeconomic, and anthropometric data, as well as dietary pattern, were collected. RESULTS: Out of 1740 children, 7.8% were stunted. Not eating eggs and dairy products had the most profound effect on stunting in children (p < 0.001). Not having meals on time, skipping breakfast, and having <3 meals per day were predictors of stunting (p = 0.003, p = 0.00, and p = 0.008, respectively). Mother’s education (p = 0.005) followed by family income (p = 0.007) was the most affecting social factors. CONCLUSION: There are many nutritional factors associated with stunting as skipping breakfast, not having meals on time, and having <3 meals per day. Scarcity in nutritive foods as eggs and dairy products and increased soft drink intake can lead to stunting. There are many enabling social factors for stunting as mother’s education and family income. However, the effects of these factors can be modified by health awareness.

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Childhood hypertension and family history of hypertension in primary school children in Port Harcourt

Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics ◽

10.4314/njp.v40i2.16 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 184-188

Author(s):

BAN Okoh ◽

EAD Alikor

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Family History ◽

Primary School ◽

School Children ◽

Antihypertensive Drugs ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Primary School Children ◽

History Of ◽

Family History Of Hypertension ◽

Childhood Hypertension

Objective: To determine the relationship between childhood hypertension and family history of hypertension in primary school children in Port Harcourt.Methods: A stratified multi-staged sampling technique was used torecruit pupils between 6-12 years of age, from thirteen primary schoolslocated in three school districts. Data was collected using a pretestedquestionnaire completed by parents / guardians. The average of three blood pressure measurements, weight and height were taken for each pupil, using standardized techniques. Hypertension was defined as average systolic and / or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equalto the 95th percentile for age, gender and height using the standard bloodpressure charts. Family history of hypertension was defined as eitherparent indicating on the submitted questionnaire that they were hypertensive (diagnosed by a physician and/or on antihypertensive drugs)or had a family history of hypertension.Results: A total of 1302 pupils with 717 (55.1%) females and 585(44.9%) males were studied, giving a female to male ratio of 1.2:1. Themean age of pupils studied was 8.82±1.91 years. Sixty one (4.7%)of the pupils examined had hypertension. Of the 1302 pupils, 316(24.3%) had a family history of hypertension. The mean systolic(p<0.001) and diastolic (p=0.220) blood pressures were higher in childrenwith a family history of hypertension than in those without. Ofthe pupils that had a family history of hypertension, 7.9% had hypertension, while 3.7% of those that did not have a family history, werefound to be hypertensive (p=0.001).Conclusion: A family history of hypertension was associated with a higher prevalence of childhood hypertension than was seen in children without a family history of hypertension.Key words: Childhood Hypertension, Family history.

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