Epidemio-clinical Profile of Stunting in School Children of an Urban Community in Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Stunting in children results from a defective growth. Our objective was to describe the epidemiological and clinical profiles of stature growth delay in school children of an urban community in Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on primary and secondary school children aged between 8 to 15 years, from January to June 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The study involved 1442 children of which 79 presented stature delay. Results: The mean age was 12 years (IQR: 11-13ans). The prevalence of stunting was 5.47% (95% CI: 3.59 to 5.87) Among which 48 (60%) of affected children were in secondary school, 41 (51.89%) were of female sex, 54 (68.35%) were aged between 11 and 13years old, 49 (62%) came from families with average or limited socioeconomic level out of which 30 (62%) had limited or poor diet, 76 (96.2%) had normal BMI, 26 (33%) had bone size abnormalities, 10 (12.65%) had delayed puberty, and 4 (5%) had a chronic disease. Conclusion: Stunting occurs among school children in the urban communities of Yaoundé in Cameroon, with considerable percentages of affected children diagnosed for the first time in secondary school, and coming from families with low socioeconomic level, having poor diet. Regular measurements of anthropometric parameters and holistic assessment may help for prevention.