Ajayi, Ike Oluwapo OyeneyeOyewole, Oyediran EmmanuelOnabanjo, Oluseye OlusegunOlawuwo, Morenikeji FolasadeSalisu, Oluwadolapo2023-06-282023-06-282023-06European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine T. 21, z. 2 (2023), s. 289-297https://repozytorium.ur.edu.pl/handle/item/9149Participation in the study was voluntary, assent was obtained from the pupils and consent from their parents or guardians. The study posed no risk to the pupils. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Review Committee of the Oyo State Ministries of Health (Ref. No. AD 13/479/1645 B ) and Ogun State (Ref No. HPRS/381/332), respectively.Introduction and aim. Childhood hypertension is an important precursor to adult hypertension. This study was used to investigate blood pressure level and nutritional status of pupils in public primary schools that were benefitting from the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study conducted among randomly selected 40 public primary schools where feeding programme was on-going in Oyo and Ogun States. Pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the pupils. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings were assessed using relevant tools. Results. Some of the pupils (129; 41.6%) aged 10-15 years (p<0.0001) were stunted compared to those aged 5-9years (60; 11.3%). Undernutrition among pupils aged 10-15 years was 47.7%, which was significantly higher than (p<0.0001) among pupils aged 5-9 years, 18.5%. Overall, prevalence of hypertension among the pupils was 6.0%. No significant difference between male and female groups with regards to MUAC (p=0.115), blood pressure (p=0.302) and BMI-for-age (p=0.100). A significant association found between blood pressure and BMI-for-age (p=0.004). Conclusion. Prevalence of blood pressure among the pupils assessed suggests more presence of high blood pressure in the population of primary school pupils. School feeding programme could be an avenue to improve nutritional indices among the pupils.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Polandhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/pl/anthropometric measurementsblood pressurenutritional statuspublic primary school pupilsschool feedingarticle10.15584/ejcem.2023.2.172544-1361