Assessment of Nutritional Status of Primary School Children in Kallin District, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt

Abstract
Background: School health has been acknowledged as important since the beginning of 20th century. Assessment of nutritional status is a major component of school health services.
Aim of the Study: This study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status of primary school children of Kallin city-Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate, Egypt.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. 2 in the rural section and 3 in the urban one with a total number of 3773 students. One urban and one rural school were chosen randomly from the governmental schools. A total of 433 pupils were included in the study. For each of the included children, socio-demographic data, dietary habits, food intake, physical examination for signs of nutritional deficiency were obtained and anthropometric measures such as (weight, height, mid upper-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness) were measured besides the Hb level which was taken from the health record of the child.
Results: The study results revealed that 29 (6.7%) were wasted, 36 (8.3%) were stunted, 6 (1.3%) suffering from severe thinning, 4 (.9%) were underweight, 137 (31.6%) were overweight, and 56 (13.1%) were obese. There were significant statistical relation between the BMI, residence of children and their socio-economic status, dietary habits, and food intake of the child.
Conclusion: From the results of the study we can conclude that over-nutrition and obesity were the prominent malnutrition problem among studied group while wasting and underweight was affecting a minimum percentage of their number.