Comparison of nutritional status of Libyan primary school children in different socio‐economic areas of Tripoli

Nutritional status of Libyan primary school children was assessed in higher (Al‐Andulus, A‐A) and lower (Abu‐Saleem, A‐S) socio‐economic areas of Tripoli. Sample size was 160 and 230 respectively, and ages ranged from 6 years to 9 years and 11 months. Linear growth was higher in A‐A children and prevalence of stunting (8.8%) was lower than in A‐S children (17.4%). Weight‐for‐height relationship was similar in the two areas for girls, but it was somewhat higher in A‐A boys than in A‐S boys. Prevalence of obesity was 9.6% in A‐A and 4.6% in A‐S children, but wasting was negligible in both the areas. Mean hemoglobin concentration was 13.7 g/dl in both areas for boys. In girls, it was higher in A‐A (13.8 g/dl) than in A‐S (13.5 g/dl). Prevalence of anemia was 0.6% and 1.3% in A‐A and A‐S respectively.

Key words:

• Nutritional status
• Libyan school children
• socio‐economic status
• height
• weight
• hemoglobin
• anemia