ABSTRACT
Nutrition is a fundamental part of human life and good
nutrition is essential for survival, physical growth, mental development,
health and well-being. The aim of the present study was to determine the
relationship between Nutritional Status and Academic performance of Primary
School Children in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. School children from Primary
three to six were used for the study and were from three randomly selected
Primary Schools within Zaria and its environs in Kaduna State. A total of 759
pupils made up of 385 girls and 374 boys were assessed. Ethical clearance was
obtained from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria and Self
administered questionnaires were used which were completed by the parents or
guardians of these children. Body anthropometrics such as height, weight, hip,
waist, chest circumferences were measured using stadiometer and measuring tape
from which BMI was calculated. The Nutritional status of the children were
determined using the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) standard for BMI
percentile, while the academic performance of the children were determined by
finding the mean of the 5 subjects taken during their term examination. When a
Childs BMI is less than 5th percentile is said to be Under weight ,
5th percentile to less than 85th is said to be healthy
weight, 85th to less than 95th percentile is said to be
overweight, equal or greater than 95th percentile is said to be
obese. The result of the present study showed that Overweight children
performed better academically when compared to others with a mean academic
score of 66.19±17.00, Underweight was observed to be more prevalent amongst the
males than the females, while on the other hand, Overweight was more prominent
in females than males. There was no statistical significant difference between
the Nutritional status and Academic performance of the Primary School Children
studied. The total number of children that were Underweight was 140 (71 males
and 69 females) while a total number of 38 children were Overweight (12males
and 26 females). Children whose parents attained tertiary education performed better academically than others. From the present study
children whose parents are Civil servants performed better academically than
others. This study also showed that a total number of 37 Children had a Heavy
birth weight and tends to perform better academically than others while
Children born in dry season perform better academically than children born in
rainy season. Conclusively, this study showed that a high percentage of the
population have Healthy weight, while only a small proportion was Obese. This
could be a result of in balance in the food intake of the population and from
the result the total number of children that were Overweight performed better
academically than the Others which could mean that the children that were well fed
and well nourished tend to do better academically than those that are not well
fed and nourished.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF STUDY
The development of any nation
or community largely depends upon the quality of education available to its
citizens. It is generally believed that the basis for any true development must
commence with the development of human resources (Akanle, 2007). Primary
education is the foundation on which further education is built (Vegas and
Petrow, 2008). Primary education has two main purposes. The first purpose is to
produce a literate and numerate population that can jointly deal with problems
both at home and at work. The second purpose is to serve as a foundation on
which further education is built (Akanle, 2007).
Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and
development across the entire life span (FAO/WHO, 1992). From the earliest
stages of foetal development, at birth, through infancy, childhood,
adolescence, and into adulthood and old age, proper food and good nutrition are
essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance and
productivity, health and well-being (WHO, 2000). Evidence has shown that
physical growth and cognitive development in children are faster during early
years of life, and that by the age of four years, 50 % of the adult
intellectual capacity has been attained and before thirteen years, 92 % of
adult intellectual capacity is attained (Vernon, 1976).
Evidence has shown that four (4 )% of the total children
born in developing countries die of malnutrition before they are five years old
(Toriola, 1990) and that the most affected are usually the children of illiterate parents in low
socio-economic status that have low purchasing power in the economy (Adekunle,
2005). Quite a number of studies have shown that poor feeding and or recurrent
infections as a result of poverty leads to stunted growth, substantial brain
impairment, low intellectual competence and capacity to learn in children (Kerr
et al., 2000; Ivanovic et al., 2002; Chang et al., 2002; Braveman
and Gruskin, 2003; Liu et al., 2003; Adebisi, 2013).
Strong evidence exists that
poor feeding practices are associated with stunted growth and delayed mental
development (Mendez and Adair, 1999); and that there is a relationship between
impaired growth status and both poor school performance and intelligence
quotient (PAHO, 1998). The relationship between timely and quality dietary
intake, brain size and academic performance has been documented (Strupp and
Levitsky, 1995; Florey et al., 1995), and that a significant correlation
exists between head circumference and intelligence quotient (1Q). This
suggests that difference in human brain size could be relevant in explaining
the differences in intelligence and academic performance, although genetic and
environmental factors like socio-economic, socio-cultural and psychological
factors could be direct or indirect co-determinants of both intelligence and school
performance (Vernon et al., 2000; Wickett et al., 2000).
Head circumference is a
physical index of both past nutrition and brain development and a good
predictor of later intelligence of a child (Botting et al., 1998), and
it is used as the most sensitive anthropometric index of prolonged under
nutrition during the infancy, associated with intellectual impairment
(Ivanovic, 1996). Traditionally, family status variables such as socio-economic
status and parents' level of education have been regarded as predictors of
children's academic achievement (Joan, 2009). Head circumference (HC) has been
defined as an anthropometric indicator of both nutritional background and brain
development (Ivanovic et al., 2004). Findings by other authors reveal
that poor prenatal and postnatal HC growth results in poor outcomes in terms of
the acquisition of cognitive and academic abilities by the child, and this
group is followed by those children with prenatal brain compromise but
satisfactory postnatal HC growth (Frisk et al., 2002).
Low maternal education is
associated with slower fetal growth, and this effect appears to be stronger for
growth of the head than for growth of other organs (Silva et al., 2010).
Maternal intelligence quotient, home environment, ethnicity, and family size
have been described as important predictors of child intelligence quotient
(Cornelius et al., 2009). A 1-cm decrease in HC predicted a 1-point
decrease in the Stanford–Binet composite score (Cornelius et al., 2009).
Mother‘s educational background, gestational age, and HC at age 2 years could
explain the achievement of appropriate schooling at age 8 years (Charkaluk et
al., 2011).
Findings by other authors suggest that abnormal brain
development after prenatal injury or postnatal nutritional deficits are
responsible for cognitive deficits in preterm children (Abernethy et al.,
2004). For all age and sex groups, Head circumference (HC) has been defined as
an anthropometric indicator of both nutritional background and brain
development (Ochiai et al., 2008).
1.2 STATEMENT
OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Poor Nutritional status is one of the major causes of low
academic performance and productivity in primary education which may affect the
physical and cognitive development in children during their early years of
life. This study seeks to address the causes of poor academic performance of pupils in selected
primary schools in Zaria metropolis.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION
Identifying the variables that
influence the achievement of school children is of great importance, because it
would serve as an essential tool for Nigeria Universal Basic Education Board
and other policy makers in the design of education policies. This would
eventually lead to a rise in the quality of primary education and pupils
nationally. The study would also add to the body of knowledge in the study
area.
This study will shed more light into the current situation
regarding the relationships between academic performance versus nutritional
status, and family background of pupils from selected primary schools in Zaria
metropolis. The outcome of the study is therefore expected to assist all
stakeholders in Zaria, particularly at the basic education level, to fashion
out appropriate strategies that would enhance the qualities of pupils.
1.4 AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
1.4.1 Aim
of Study
The aim of this study was to
investigate the relationship between anthropometric parameters, nutritional
status and academic performance of primary school children in Zaria, Kaduna
State Nigeria.
The
present study is designed to achieve the following objectives, to;
i.
assess the influence of Nutritional
Status on Academic Performance of Primary School Children in Zaria Kaduna State
Nigeria.
ii.
study the influence of
anthropometric parameters on academic performance of Primary School Children in
Zaria Kaduna State Nigeria.
iii.
assess the relationship between
nutritional status and some anthropometric parameters of Primary School
Children in Zaria Kaduna State Nigeria.
iv.
study the influence of parental
social economic status on academic performance of Primary School Children in
Zaria Kaduna State Nigeria.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
It is therefore hoped that results of this study will assist
parents and other stakeholders in understanding the influence of some
anthropometric parameters on academic performance of these pupils. This will
also help policy makers in the design and implementation of nutrition education
program at primary school level. The study will create a data base on the
influence of some anthropometric parameters and social status on academic
performance of primary school children within Zaria metropolis.
1.6 STUDY
HYPOTHESES
This
study sets out to test the following hypotheses:
i.
There will be difference in academic
performance of the school children due to difference in anthropometric
parameters, nutritional and social status.
It
is important to define some key concepts that have been used in order to
clarify the context within which they are being used in this study.
i.
Nutritional status: Refers
to the physical well-being of the child in weight and height.
ii.
Socio-demographic factors: These
include age, gender, birth order, etc.
-
Sex: It
is categorized into female or male.
-
Age: Refers
to the age of the child as at last birthday. Parents help child in filling the
child‘s age as at last birthday.
-
Birth order: Refers
to child‘s position in the sib ship. Response are categorized into
1st, 2nd, 3rd or later born.
-
Family size: this
refers to the total number of siblings there are in a family and was
categorized into 1, 2, 3 and greater than or equal 4.
i.
Father’s occupation: Refers
to the job of head of the family. For simplicity during analysis, these
are grouped into civil servants, artisans, traders, private/company employee or
farmer.
ii.
Mother’s occupation: Refers
to the job of child‘s mother. These could be civil servant, artisan,
housewife, trader, private/company employee, or farmer.
iii.
Father’s level of education: This
refers to the highest level of education of child‘s father. This was
categorized as none, primary, secondary, or tertiary education.
iv.
Mother’s level of education: This
refers to the highest level of education of child‘s mother. This was
categorized as none, primary, secondary, or tertiary education.
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