Assessment of the Effect of Nutritional Status' and Intestinal Parasitic Infection on Academic Performance of Elementary School Children in Teda Town, Gonder, Ethiopia.
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Date
2000-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted involving 641 students of the two primary schools of Teda town, North Gonder. The purpose of the study was to determine the nutritional and intestinal parasitic infect ion (lP I) status of the children, the effect of IPI and nutritional status on the children's academic performance, and the effect of IPI on nutrition. Data were collected using questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Physical and stool examinations were also carried out. School average scores were obtained from school records. The data were entered, processed and ana lysed using EPI Info version 6, computer software (and its subprogram EPINUT). Underweight and stun ting were found to be 59.S% and 41.7% respectively, whereas the over all IPI rate was 77.7%. The commonest infection was Ascaris IUl11bricoides with prevalence or 66. 7%, followed by Entameba hi stolytica with prevalence of 14.S%. Low than high pupil s' school average score was significantly associated with underweight, X' = 39.45, (p value < 0.0001), and with stunting, 'X = 19.79, (p < 0.001). Intestinal parasitic infection did not show any association with the nutritional status and school performance or the children. A higher proportion of the younger than the older age group was underweight, OR = I.S6 (95% CI = 1.32, 2.64). Also higher proportion of the urban students than that of the rural ones were under weight, OR = 2.25 (95% CI = 1.59, 3 . IS), and a significantly higher proport ion of the urban than the rural students were stunted. The town and the rural students were not different regarding to II'I. Th is survey should sensitize concerned bodies for improving primary school children's health and nutrition. Recommendations are made to take actions to alleviate the lPI and nutritional problems of the school children .
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Nutritional Status