Meal patterns of Ghanaian school children from different socio-economic background

Abstract

This study was undertaken to look at the meal patterns in general and breakfast pattern in particular of school children from different socioeconomic backgrounds. The study revealed that many factors play a role in the total well being of a child and not only the meals taken in although the type of food consumed is very important. The chief constraining factor is poverty, which is worsened by the impact of poor health and nutritional status and high fertility. Child labour also plays a very important role in the lives of most children in the primary school especially those in the public schools, where there are exploitative aspects relating to the use of children as maid servants, hawkers and cart pullers. Some of the children go to bed late because of trading activities and many parents do not prepare food at home for their children. Although most of the children do not take breakfast before going to school they consume some food during break time and this is able to maintain the functions of the body. Although the private schools were not perfect, they had negligible problems, compared to the public schools