Socio-demographic determinants of body mass indices among school children in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

19^th Global Nursing Education Conference

April 27-28, 2017 Las Vegas, USA

H A Akinsola, C Ezeruigbo, K A Kyei, F Anyanwu and R Nemakhavhani

University of Venda, South Africa
Ebonyi State University, Nigeria

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

The purpose of this study was to determine the socioeconomic correlates of body mass index of primary and secondary school children in Ebonyi state, which is situated in South Eastern Nigeria. The design of the study was quantitative, cross-sectional and analytical. The study included only schools located in Abakaliki Local Government area. Apart from a questionnaire, a Mettler weighing scale was also used. For data collection, after administering the interview, the weight and height of each child were measured and recorded in order to measure their body mass index. Generalized linear model technique was used to test the association between the participants� sociodemographic characteristics and their body mass index. The study found that the mean BMI of the pupils was low and that there was a relationship between the sociodemographic characteristics of the children and their BMI scores.

Biography :

H A Akinsola is a Public Health Specialist. He obtained his first degree and PhD from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Master’s degree from the University of Manchester, England. He has worked in different parts of Africa where he served in different capacities. Between 2009 and 2015, he was the Head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Venda where he has been working since 2007. He retired in May 2015 and is currently a Professor Emeritus in Public Health at the University of Venda.

Email: Henry.Akinsola@univen.ac.za