DIETARY DIVERSITY, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVER STATE

DIETARY DIVERSITY, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVER STATE

Abstract

Background: Poor nutrition can hinder pupils from achieving good educational performance at school because they are either hungry or malnourished and are unable to concentrate and perform well in academic activities. This study compared the dietary diversity, nutritional status and academic performance of pupils in public and private primary schools. It also identified factors influencing their nutritional status and dietary diversity.
Methodology: This study utilized a comparative cross-sectional survey. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select pupils from public and private primary schools. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measures and dietary diversity scores. Educational performance was assessed using the end of term examination results for Mathematics and English in the selected schools. WHO Anthroplus software version 1.0.4 was used to classify pupils as underweight, stunted, overweight or normal. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0.
Results: A total of 1694 pupils aged 6-11years participated in this study with 847 pupils in the public and private schools respectively. The mean age of all participants was 8.33±1.58 years. Pupils in the private schools had a significantly higher mean dietary diversity score of 4.74±1.05, while pupils in the public schools had a mean dietary diversity score of 3.67±0.71 (p=0.001; 95%CI: -1.16, -0.99).
Pupils in the public schools were significantly more underweight with a lower mean WAZ of -0.72 ± 1.04 compared to pupils in private primary schools (WAZ = 0.24 ± 0.72), [p=0.001; 95%CI: -1.05, -0.87] . Pupils in public schools were also significantly more stunted (HAZ = -1.24 ± 0.86), [p=0.000; 95%CI: -1.07, -0.92] compared to pupils in the private schools (HAZ = -0.24 ± 0.73), while the mean BMI-for-age was significantly higher among pupils in private
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schools (0.50 ± 0.79), [p=0.001; 95%CI: -0.48, -0.31] compared to pupils in the public schools (0.10 ± 0.98).
The mean academic performance of pupils in the private primary schools was significantly higher compared to pupils in the public primary schools. Low dietary diversity score, being underweight or being overweight were significant predictors of poor academic performance. Father’s income was a significant predictor of dietary diversity among public and private primary school pupils. Hours watching TV was a significant predictor of overweight and obesity among pupils in private primary schools.
Conclusion: Pupils in the private schools had significantly higher dietary diversity scores, good nutritional status and educational performance compared to pupils in the public schools.

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

 

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

 

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

 

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

 

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretaion of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

 

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

DIETARY DIVERSITY, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVER STATE

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