Peer-reviewed article

Child Nutrition and Health Indicators as Predictors of Academic Performance among Primary School Children in Binduri District, Ghana

Alfred Apubuos Azure, Faith Agbozo, Francis Bruno Zotor · 31 Oct 2024

Abstract

Child nutrition and health indicators are crucial for monitoring child growth and predicting health outcomes. Poor health in early childhood can negatively affect cognitive abilities and academic achievement, while poor nutritional indicators have been linked to lower academic performance in children. This study was aimed at assessing child nutrition and health indicators as predictors of academic performance among primary school children in Binduri District, Ghana. Overall, 460 children from 63 schools were studied to assess the relationship between child nutrition, health indicators, socioeconomic status and academic performance. Data was collected through questionnaires, height/weight measurements, and academic records. Statistical methods such as Chi-squared tests and binary regression were used to determine associations with a 95% confidence level and 5% precision. Overall, stunting (cOR =2.44, 95% CI: 1.17-5.11, p=0.018) and thinness (a OR=11.75, 95% CI: 3.99-34.60, p<0.0001) were significantly associated with poor academic performance, while wasting and overweight were not. Second intermittent preventive treatment in infants is strongly associated with poor academic performance (a OR=6.50, 95% CI: 2.02-20.89, p=0.002), while yellow fever vaccination at 9 months is negatively associated with poor academic performance (c OR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.05-0.88, p=0.032). Children aged 11-14 years (OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.22-0.71, p=0.002), Muslim children (a OR=2.14, 95% CI: 1.04-4.41, p=0.039), public school attendees (a OR=6.58, 95% CI: 2.13-20.32, p=0.001) children with separated or divorced parents (a OR=7.22, 95% CI: 2.85-18.31, p<0.0001) all had significant associations with poor academic performance. This study highlights the association between child nutrition, health indicators and academic performance in primary school children in Ghana’s Binduri District. Interventions to reduce stunting and thinness and increase access to yellow fever vaccination should be prioritized. School policies should also consider demographic factors affecting academic performance to provide targeted support to at-risk students.