The nutritional status of Grade 1 pupils, in Bloemfontein, South Africa and its association with socio-demographic data

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that UNICEF declared freedom from hunger and malnutrition a basic human right in 1948, more than 20 million children were severely malnourished in 2010 and a further 170 million were stunted. Malnutrition attributes to >50% of child deaths by potentiating infectious diseases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the extent of malnutrition in Grade 1 pupils in public sector schools in Bloemfontein. An objective of the study was to identify relationships between socio-economic parameters and malnutrition. METHOD: Grade 1 pupils from ten public schools in Bloemfontein, selected from a random table, were included in the study. Their parents/caregivers gave informed consent and completed a questionnaire regarding baseline characteristics and feeding practices at home. The children were then weighed and measured, and the 2007 WHO Growth Reference for school-aged children and adolescents used as reference. RESULTS: A total of 187 children were included in the study. The combination of underweight, wasting and stunting gave an 18% prevalence of malnutrition in this study. A BMI of less than the fifth percentile occurred in 27% of the pupils. Factors positively associated with malnutrition included: Absence of a fridge and/or running water in the house and low education and/or unemployment of parents. Illness in the previous month was reported by 41% of the malnourished children. CONCLUSION: As socio-economic factors that contribute to malnutrition are now known, teachers will be able to identify and refer children with or at risk of malnutrition and indirectly decrease child mortality.