Nutritional status and morbidity pattern among governmental primary school children in the Eastern Nepal.

OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional status and morbidity pattern of primary school children. METHODS Descriptive, cross sectional study was administered in the five governmental schools located in Dhankuta town (Dhankuta district) and Ineruwa town (Sunsari district). The schools were selected using simple random sampling technique. From these selected schools, a total number of 818 students studying from Grade I to V were enumerated in the study using census survey method. RESULTS Among 818 students, 61% of the students were found to be malnourished. The students were more stunted (21.5%) than wasted (10.4%). Only 5.4 % of the students were found to be both wasted and stunted. The collected blood and stool samples from the students revealed parasitic infestation of 65.8% and anaemia of 58%. The most common diseases in those schools were: skin diseases (20%), dental caries (19.8%), and lymphodenopathy (10.5%). Among skin diseases, pediculosis was more common among girls while ringworms and scabies were common among boys. CONCLUSION The study revealed that high percentage of primary school students was malnourished. It was found that there was a high prevalence of parasitic infestation and anaemia. The study result revealed the urgent need for initiation of school health program with specific emphasis on prevention of diseases, improvement of personal hygiene and nutritional status with the collaboration of governmental and non governmental institutions.