COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VITAMIN A AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS OF CHILDREN AGED 6-24 MONTHS IN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VITAMIN A AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS OF CHILDREN AGED 6-24 MONTHS IN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

The data was analyzed using
anthropomet ric z scores and categorized using WHO Anthro sof tware (2007).
Comparison was done using Chi square test for categorical variables and
ANOVA and t-test for cont inuous variables. Al l statistical analysis were done
using SPSS version 15 and signif icance judged at presul t , stunt ing (49.8%) was the major nutri t ional problem ident if ied in most
of the chi ldren. However, 14.1% and 7.5% were underweight and wasted,
respect ively. The composi te index of anthropomet ric fai lure (CIAF) counted
for a total of 55.3% of the chi ldren that had anthropometric fai lures.
However, 70.0 % (weight -for -length), 46.5 % (length-for-age) and 83.5 %
(weight-for-age) fell wi thin the normal region in al l anthropometr ic
indicators. The prevalence of overweight and obesi ty (combined) was high in
the rural (37%) as against 8.0% in the urban locat ion. A total of 84.5% of the
urban chi ldren had normal weight-for- length compared to 55.5% of the rural
children. Locat ion signif icant ly (p<0.05) influenced weight-for -age status.

However, the percentage of chi ldren wasted in both locat ions was simi lar
(7.5%). Urban chi ldren had higher (55.0%) length-for -age value than the rural
(46.5%) children. Stunt ing was more prevalent in the rural (49.8%) than in
the urban (42.0%) areas. There was st rong associat ion between locat ion and
length-for -age status (p<0.05). The rural chi ldren had higher weight -for-age
percentage (85.0%) than the urban (82.0%) chi ldren. Underweight was more
prevalent in the urban (16.0%) than in the rural (12.0%). However , locat ion
had no ef fect (p>0.05) on the weight -for-age status. Age had no relat ionship
wi th underweight , stunt ing and wast ing in the locat ions and gender. However,
age group (6-10 months ) inf luenced (p<0.05%) the prevalence of overweight
only in rural females. The growth veloci t ies fluctuated wi thin the study
period. The weight veloci ties of the male subjects were higher (p<0.05) than
those of the females whi le length veloci t ies of the females were higher
(p<0.05) than those of the males. The weight veloci t ies of the rural chi ldren