Anthropometric Measurements of Preschool Children in North Cameroon

Nearly 30% of the world’s population is currently suffering from one or more of the many forms of malnutrition. In Cameroon, 32% of under-five children suffer from moderate and chronic under nutrition, and 13% from the severe chronic form. This study aimed at evaluating the nutritional status of preschool children using anthropometric indices and the relationship of these to the mothers’ socioeconomic status in a regional setting in Cameroon. It was a cross sectional, descriptive and analytic study in which the anthropometric indicators of 375 preschool children were measured. Z scores of height for age, weight for height and weight for age were calculated using the WHO references. These Z scores were correlated with the mother’s age, her level of education, her marital status and the size of household. Z scores < 2.0 for at least one of the following parameters viz; weight-to-age, weight-to-height and height-to-age were noted in 64 (17.1%) children. Similarly Z scores > 2.0 for at least one of the two parameters, weight-to-height and weight-to-age, were noted in 8 (2.1%) children. Hence, the overall prevalence of malnutrition among pre-school children was 19.2% and 8.5% were underweight, wasting was observed in 7.5% and obesity was observed in 0.5% of the children. Being underweight was significantly correlated with household size (P=0.036), and stunting was significantly associated with maternal age (P=0.02). Malnutrition is frequent in apparently healthy pre school children in northern Cameroon and significantly associated with the selected socio-economic parameters of the mothers. Hence, anthropometric measurements should be done during routine school health visits. This helps to diagnose growth faltering and timely referral to hospitals for appropriate management.