title: Anthropometric and micronutrient status of school-children in an urban West Africa setting: a cross-sectional study in Dakar (Senegal).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urban areas in West Africa are not immune to undernutrition with recent urbanization and high food prices being important factors. School children often have a poor nutritional status, potentially affecting their health and schooling performance. Yet, generally school children do not benefit from nutrition programs. The objective of the study was to assess the anthropometric and micronutrient status of children from state schools in the Dakar area.
  
  
  METHODS
  School children (n = 604) aged from 5 to 17 y (52.5% girls, 47.5% ≥ 10 y) were selected through a two-stage random cluster sample of children attending urban primary state schools in the Dakar area (30 schools × 20 children). The prevalence of stunting (height-for-age<-2 z-scores) and thinness (BMI-for-age<-2 z-scores, WHO 2006, and three grades of thinness corresponding to BMI of 18.5, 17.0 and 16.0 kg/m2 in adults) were calculated from weight and height. Hemoglobin, plasma concentrations of ferritin (FER), transferrin receptors (TfR), retinol binding protein (RBP), and zinc, and urinary iodine concentrations were measured. Correction factors were used for FER and RBP in subjects with inflammation determined with C-reactive protein and α1-acid-glycoprotein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4.9% of children were stunted, 18.4% were thin, 5.6% had severe thinness (BMI-for-age<-3 z-scores). Only one child had a BMI-for-age>2 z-scores. Prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia was 14.4%, 39.1% and 10.6% respectively. 3.0% had vitamin A deficiency, 35.9% a marginal vitamin A status, and 25.9% zinc deficiency. Urinary iodine was <50 µg/L in 7.3% of children and ≥ 200 µg/L in 22.3%. The prevalence of marginal vitamin A, zinc deficiency, high TfR was significantly higher in boys than in girls (P<0.05). Height-for-age and retinol were significantly lower in participants ≥ 10 y and <10 y respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Undernutrition, especially thinness, iron and zinc deficiencies in school children in the Dakar area requires special targeted nutrition interventions.
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche et d'Echanges Technologiques (GRET), Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche et d'Echanges Technologiques (GRET), Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastard
authors.affiliation: Division du Contrôle Médical Scolaire (DCMS), Ministère de l'Education Nationale, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Malick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sembène
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 Nutripass, IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 Nutripass, IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Traissac
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 Nutripass, IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Edwige
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Landais
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 Nutripass, IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Christèle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Icard-Vernière
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 Nutripass, IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Frank T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Wieringa
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 204 Nutripass, IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000592:standards; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients