Anthropometric Study of Weight, Height and Blood Pressure in Children from NNEWI North Local Government of Anambra State, South East Nigeria

The reports of longitudinal study of blood pressure in childhood suggest an important role for early detection and enhancing a better understanding of the natural history of elevated blood pressure. This is important in Africa where reports of childhood blood pressure studies are scarce. In this study, anthropometric parameters (weight and height) were measure to check their correlation with blood pressure. The study was carried out on 320 primary school children whose age ranged from 6-14 at a gender ratio of 1:1. Their heights, weights and blood pressures were measured using height meter, weighing scale, sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. The results showed that weight and height values correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure for males in all age groups except in age groups 6-8years. In females, weight values correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all age groups while height correlated with blood pressure only in age groups 6-8years and 9-11 years. Females also showed higher mean weight values than the males in all age groups except in groups 6-8yearrs. The present study indicated that weight and height were associated with blood pressure; with weight showing stronger association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure than height. Females had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure than males starting from ages 9-14.