SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM AND DIETARY DIVERSITY BETWEEN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM AND NON-PARTICIPANTS IN OSOGBO AND OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA.
Abstract
School serves as a second home for school children, because they spend almost 6-7hours per day, the state of school health program has a strong influence on the health and wellbeing of children which must be regularly monitored and evaluated to prevent issues like infections, malnutrition, and dental problems among school-age children. Diet diversity is considered a crucial factor in achieving balanced nutrition, which prevent malnutrition, enhance learning, promote cognitive and physical development among school age children. For children to get a full access to educational activities and its benefits, children must be in good health and well-fed.
This study utilized a comparative cross sectional design involving two local government area of schools participating and non-participants in school feeding program in Osogbo and Ogbomoso north local government area. A convenient sample size of 350 students was selected from both local government. Structured Questionnaires was used to assess SHS, SFS and HSE in both local government area. MDDS Questionnaires was used to assess the dietary diversity of school children in both local government area. 2 school vendors were interviewed in all schools.
Findings reveals poor consumption of fish and egg in Osogbo and high consumption of banana in Ogbomoso. The p-value of 0.147 of SHE indicates the difference in availability of health committee and first aid box contents is not statistically significant. In Ogbomoso 1 (20%) has poor toilets, 4 (80%) schools has good toilets while in Osogbo 2(28%) schools has very good toilets. In Ogbomoso 4(80%) schools has poor and 1(50%) has good waste disposal while Osogbo 1(50%) has a good and 1(50%) has very good waste disposal.
Majority of schools in both location had first aid box content, boreholes as source of drinking water, refuse bins and availability of waste disposal. However, it revealed lack of certified health personnel, improper waste disposal in Ogbomoso, in adequate funding of school feeding program in both locations, which resulted to free meals were not yet served to students at third week of resumption due to new session Osogbo local government area
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