NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND NUTRIENT INTAKE ADEQUACY OF STUDENTS OF BOLE NURSING AND MIDWIFERY TRAINING COLLEGE

Abstract

Across the life cycle, energy and nutrient requirements vary depending on age, sex, physiological state, and physical activity levels. Universally, school meals are seen as a way of tackling malnutrition and poor eating behaviours in school children. The provision of meals by colleges of nursing is geared towards meeting the nutrient requirements of students, thereby, improving their nutritional status. The study focused on estimating the nutritional status and nutrient intake adequacy of students in a cross-sectional study consisting of 231 student nurses. Anthropometric measurements were used to determine students’ nutritional status while the food frequency questionnaire and weighed food methods were used to assess dietary diversity and nutrient intake. HemoCue1 Hb 201+ was used to determine the haemoglobin concentration of the students. SPSS version 23.0 was used for the data entry and analysis. Nutrient adequacy ratios were calculated for some nutrients and the Mean Adequacy Ratio for all nutrients was determined. Underweight prevalence among students was 4 per cent whilst 27.8% were overweight. Females were highly likely to be overweight than males who stood a higher chance of being underweight when compared to their female colleagues. There was a significant difference in BMI among the program of study where PNNM students were more prone to being overweight and underweight was common among RNAP students. Similarly, the difference in BMI among students’ year of study was significant with first-year students having a greater risk of being underweight and obesity. About 18.4% of students had a high waist-to-hip ratio with students in the PNNM program being significantly at a higher risk of having a high waist-to-hip ratio than the other programs. The anaemia prevalence in the study was 21.5% with the risk greater among females than males. The amount of protein and carbohydrates provided by the school meals exceeds 100% of the recommended daily requirements of students. Similarly, the school meals provided more than the recommended daily allowance for vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamine and folate, though that of Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, vitamin K, iron, and zinc were inadequate. However, the school meals met the needs of students for all the essential amino acids. The Mean Adequacy Ratio of both micronutrients and macronutrients were adequate. The food categories of Grains, white tubers, and plantain; and other vegetables were consumed each day of the week whilst pulses were consumed 4 times a week. The school meals recorded a dietary diversity score of 28. In conclusion, the study results depict that the college’s meals are not diversified and hence inadequately meet the micronutrients need of students. The study recommends that The Health Training Institutions in collaboration with other stakeholders should develop a standard Food-Based Dietary Guideline (FBDG) that could be used by all Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges (NMTC) in the country. Also, Bole Nursing and Midwifery Training College should re-develop its feeding menu that will promote the intake of a range of foods to step up the quality of meals served to students.