Anthropometric Indices and Cardiovascular Parameters of Children

This study investigated the anthropometric parameters as well as determined the influence of parental socioeconomic status on the cardiovascular parameters of school pupils. This was with a view to identifying the risk factors and indicators for the development of hypertension in children early in life. One thousand and twenty-six primary school pupils (age range 6-14 years) whose parents gave informed consent from ten randomly selected public and private primary schools in Ile-Ife were recruited for the study. Anthropometric indices (weight, height, body mass index, abdominal circumference) and cardiovascular parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate) of each pupil were measured. Height was measured with a validated wooden height meter and weight was measured with a bathroom weighing scale. Abdominal circumference was measured with an inextensible tape measure just below the rib cage and above the umbilicus at the end of normal expiration. Blood pressure was measured after ten minutes of quiet sitting with an anaeroid sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope.