Adolescents Nutritional Status and its association with Academic Performance in South Ethiopia; a facility-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Though evidence about the magnitude of malnutrition is well established in Ethiopia, the evidence is scarce about the association of nutritional status with academic performance among adolescents. Thus, this study aimed at determining the association of nutritional status with academic performance among adolescents attending secondary schools in Wolaita Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 670 systematically selected adolescents in secondary schools of Wolaita Sodo town from April to June 2019. The academic performance of the adolescents was measured using the average mark score of two consecutive semester's results of the overall subjects. Data were analyzed with STATA software Version 15. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, and linear regression were used in the statistical analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: The mean academic performance of students was 69.21±0.42 (95% CI: 68.34%-70.02%). An average mark score of students increased by 1.89 (β=1.89; 95 %CI: 1.14, 2.64) for a unit increase in BMI for age z-score. Being female decreased an average mark score by 2.63 (β=-2.63; 95 %CI: -4.28, -0.98) and being from a separated parents decreased by 4.73 (β=-4. 73; 95 %CI: -6.73, -2.74). An average mark score of students from the lowest wealth class decreased by 9.92(-9.92; 95 %CI: -12.79, -7.04) as compared to students from the highest wealth class. Attending private schools increased the average mark score of students by 4.18 (β=4.18; 95 %CI: 2.46, 5.90). Conclusion: This study has ascertained that poor academic performance was reported among undernourished students, girls, students whose parents were separated, students of low wealth status households, and students enrolled to public schools. Launching nutritional interventions, household income generating activities targeting lowest wealth status households, and giving tutorial classes for female students were recommended.

Nutritional Status of school-going adolescents in urban and rural areas in the Duhok District

“…[9] while, overweight and obesity has the potential to impair academic performance via social pathways such as discrimination and stigma. [10] Globally, the prevalence of overweight has increased from less than 1% in 1975 to 5% among girls and 8% among boys in 2016, while the prevalence of obesity has increased in all the regions of the world. The trend of over-nutrition amplified from 5 million in 1975 to 50 million in 2016 among girls, and 6 million in 1975 to 74 million in 2016 among boys globally.…”