Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal: Nutrients

Volume number: 12

Issue number: 1

eISSN: 2072-6643

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010207

Publisher: MDPI

Abstract: 
Low diet quality is a driver of general and micronutrient malnutrition in urban and rural areas. The objective was to compare malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies linked to dietary intake among urban and rural schoolchildren from food insecure settings in Kenya. The cross-sectional study was conducted among urban and rural schoolchildren aged 7-9 years. Height and weight were measured, venous blood samples were assessed and data on dietary intake was collected. After screening out children with hemoglobin >12.2 g/dL and moderate or severe undernutrition, a total of 36 urban and 35 rural children participated. The prevalence of moderate underweight, wasting, and stunting were lower in urban than in rural children, with significant differences in median z-scores for underweight (p < 0.001) and wasting (p < 0.001). Significantly higher values for serum ferritin (p = 0.012) and zinc (p < 0.001) were found in urban children. Yet, the median adequacy ratios were higher for vitamin C (p = 0.045), iron (p = 0.003), and zinc (p = 0.003) in rural than in urban children. General nutritional, iron, and zinc status were significantly better in slightly anemic urban children than in rural ones. Improving the nutrition of schoolchildren in urban and rural settings requires different dietary approaches.

Harvard Citation style: Evang, E., Habte, T., Owino, W. and Krawinkel, M. (2020) The Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Urban Schoolchildren with Moderate Anemia is Better than in a Rural Area in Kenya, Nutrients, 12(1), Article 207. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010207

APA Citation style: Evang, E., Habte, T., Owino, W., & Krawinkel, M. (2020). The Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Urban Schoolchildren with Moderate Anemia is Better than in a Rural Area in Kenya. Nutrients. 12(1), Article 207. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010207