Relationship Between Nutritional Status and Academic Performance among Public Primary School Students in Debre-Tabor Town, Amhara Regional State, North-Central Ethiopia,2018.
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Date
2018-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: - Despite the great struggle to prevent malnutrition it is still a major globalburden which mainly affects children. Under-nutrition is a fundamental factor which resultedin delayed cognitive development and under achievement of academic performance later inchildren’s life at school. Studies revealed that the extent of under-nutrition in Ethiopia isestablished well but evidences about its relationship with educational achievement of schoolage children are insufficient.
Objective: To assess the relationship between nutritional status and academic performanceamong public primary school children in Debre-Tabor Town, Amhara Regional State North-Central Ethiopia, 2018.
Method: - An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted. Simple and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select a total of 399 study participants at Debre-Tabor Town. The nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurement of WHO2007 reference as Height for Age Z-score (HAZ), Weight for Age Z-score (WAZ) and Body Mass Index for Age Z-score (BAZ). Academic performance was assessed by calculating twosemesters overall subjects average score. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation test andlinear regression were used for statistical analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24and nutritional status was analyzed using WHO AnthroPlus version 1.0.4 (5-19 years).
Result:-The prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight was 22%, 32.4%,24.3% and 1.3% respectively. The mean academic performance for study participants was71.65(±12.63 SD). There was statistically significant positive relationship between academicachievement and HAZ. Age of child and absenteeism were associated negatively while headof house, attending preschool and breakfast habit associated positively with educationalachievement of the study participants.
Conclusion:-The prevalence of under-nutrition among study participants was high. Childrennot having breakfast and those absent from school perform poor in academic performance.The relationship between HAZ and academic achievement was positive and statisticallysignificant. Therefore there should be nutritional interventions during prenatal, young infantperiods and at school to enhance children’s long term nutritional status and their educationalachievement. Students should be encouraged to eat breakfast and attend classes regularly.
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Nutritional status, Academic performance, primary school, child