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4.3 Objective 3: Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the nutritional status of the
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Table 5: Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the Weight of the children N=500 Children fed on Jollof rice with Moringa oleifera
leaf powder
Children fed on Jollof rice only
Month N Mean Weight (kg)
Std deviation Mean Weight (kg)
Std deviation Baseline 250 20.11 2.38
18.5 2.67
2nd month 250 20.78 2.45
18.33 2.71
4th month 250 20.90 2.48
18.32 2.69
6th month 250 21.14 2.62
18.41 2.65
F-value 7.696 P-value 0.000 F-value 0.257 P-value 0.856
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4.3.2 Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the Height of the children
The result in Table 6 showed that at baseline the mean height was 116.49cm + 5.729 and 109.55cm + 6.05 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. At month two following feeding, mean height was 116.81cm + 5.83 and 109.59cm + 6.10 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. At month four following feeding, mean height was 116.86cm + 5.75 and 109.55cm + 6.09 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. Finally at month six following feeding, mean height was 116.94cm + 5.80 and 109.64cm + 6.14 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. The baseline and bi-monthly heights of the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder was compared using Analysis of Variance (One –way ANOVA), an F-value of 0.298 with a p-value of 0.827 was obtained but the difference was not significant (p>0.05).
The baseline and bi-monthly heights of the children fed on jollof rice only was also compared using Analysis of Variance (One –way ANOVA), an F-value of 0.012 and a p-value of 0.298 was obtained and the difference was also not significant (p>0.05).
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Table 6: Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the Height of the children N=500 Children fed on Jollof rice with Moringa oleifera
leaf powder
Children fed on Jollof rice only
Month N Mean height
(cm)
Standard deviation
Mean height (cm) Standard deviation
Baseline 250 116.4 5.72 109.55 6.05
2nd month 250 116.81 5.83 109.55 6.10
4th month 250 116.86 5.75 109.59 6.09
6th month 250 116.94 5.80 109.64 6.14
F-value 0.298 P-value 0.827 F-value 0.012 P-value 0.298
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4.3.3 Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of the children
The results in Table 7 showed that at baseline, the mean mid upper arm circumference was 15.72cm + 1.10 and 15.40cm + 0.87 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. At month two following feeding, mean mid upper arm cirdumference was 16.31cm + 1.14 and 15.54cm + 0.96 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. At month four following feeding, mean mid upper arm circumference was 16.38cm + 1.09 and 15.54cm + 0.95 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. Finally at month six following feeding, mean mid upper arm circumference was 16.59cm + 1.43 and 15.60cm + 0.97 respectively for the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only. The baseline and bi-monthly mid upper arm circumference of the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder were compared using Analysis of Variance (One –way ANOVA), an F-value of 24.082 and a p-value of 0.000 was obtained p<0.05 showing a highly significant improvement.
The baseline and bi-monthly mid upper arm circumference of the children fed on jollof rice only were also compared using Analysis of Variance (One –way ANOVA), an F-value of 2.05 and p-value of 0.105 was obtained p<0.05 (slightly significant).
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Table 7: Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of the children=500
Children fed on Jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder
Children fed on Jollof rice only
Month N Mean MUAC
(cm)
Standard deviation
Mean MUAC in cm
Standard deviation
Baseline 250 15.72 1.10 15.40 0.87
2nd month 250 16.31 1.14 15.54 0.96
4th month 250 16.38 1.09 15.54 0.95
6th month 250 16.59 1.43 15.60 0.97
F-value 24.082 P-value 0.000 F-value 2.05 P-value 0.105
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4.3.4 Body Mass Index of children 4-5 years old fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only
The result in Table 8 showed that at baseline the body mass indices (BMI) of the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder were 84 (33.6%) under weight, 137 (54.8%) healthy weight, 20 (8%) overweight and 9 (3.6%) obese while among those fed on jollof rice only BMI were 76 (30.4%) underweight, 149 (59.6%) healthy weight, 14 (5.6%) overweight and 11 (4.4%) obese. At month two following feeding, among the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder underweight children reduced to 64 (25.6%) while healthy weight, overweight and obese increased to 151 (60.4%), 23 (9.2%) and 12 (4.8%) respectively. Among those fed on jollof rice only, underweight increased to 83 (33.2%) and a mild reduction in the numbers of healthy weight, overweight and obese of 144 (57.6%), 13 (5.2%) and 11 (4%) respectively were observed. At month four following feeding among those fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder underweight further reduced to 39 (15.6%) while healthy weight, over weight and obese increased to 169 (67.6%), 24 (9.6%) and 18 (7.2%) respectively.
However, for those fed on jollof rice only, there was also a reduction in underweight of 65 (26%) while an increase in healthy weight, over weight and obese of 156 (62.4%), 17(6.8%) and 12 (4.8%) respectively were observed. Finally at the sixth month following feeding, those fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder had a reduced underweight of 27 (10.8%) while there was an increase in healthy weight, over weight and obese of 179 (71.6%), 26 (10.4%) and 18 (7.2%) respectively while for the children fed on jollof rice only, underweight further increased to 85 (34%) while healthy weight, over weight and obese reduced to 149 (59.6%), 12 (4.8%) and 4 (1.6%) respectively. A chi-square value of 2.721 and a p-value of 0.257 were obtained. Thus the observed increase in the number of children having healthy weight, overweight and obese among the children fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder when compared with the chidren fed on jollof rice only shows that Moringa oleifera leaf powder has a positive effect on the nutritional status of the children.
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Table 8: Body Mass Index of children 4-5 years old fed on jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder and those fed on jollof rice only
Children fed on Jollof rice with Moringa oleifera leaf powder Children fed on Jollof rice only
Study period
No Examined
Under weight
Healthy Weight
Over
weight Obese
Under weight
Healthy weight
Over
Weight Obese
Baseline 250 84
(33.6%) 137 (54.8%)
20 (8%) 9 (3.6%)
76 (30.4%) 149 (59.6%)
14 (5.6%)
11 (4.4%)
2nd month following feeding
250
64 (25.6%)
151 (60.4%)
23 (9.2%)
12 (4.8%)
83 (33.2%) 144 (57.6%)
13 (5.2%)
10 (4%)
4th month following feeding
250 39
(15.6%) 169 (67.6%)
24 (9.6)%
18 (7.2%)
65 (26%) 156 (62.4%)
17 (6.8%)
12 (4.8%)
6th month following feeding
250 27
(10.8%) 179 (71.6%)
26 (10.4%)
18
(7.2)
85 (34%) 149 (59.6%)
12 (4.8%)
4 (1.6%)
Chi-square 2.721 P-value 0.257
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4.4 Objective 4: Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the haematological parameters