Relationship between Healthy Nutrition and Academic Performance of Students at Primary School Level: An experimental study

Abstract

This study was designed to see the relationship between the nutritional status and academic performance among primary school children in selected villages of the District Jamshoro, Sindh Province, Pakistan. This was an experimental study. A total of (2) schools and (40) class-three students of age 8 years were selected randomly. Anthropometric measurement data were taken of each student applying the standard tools recognized by the World Health Organization. Data were collected through the questionnaire and student achievement test; collected data were analyzed in SPSS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results of BMI and SAT scores were compared and interpreted. The study found that there was a significant difference in the mean score of the students marks and BMI before and after the treatment. This revealed that a low level of academic performance was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among the underweight students than that of the healthy weight students. Malnutrition is a harmful factor which affects the lives of children and prevents them from engaging in mental and physical activities for which their learning is not effective. Collaboration between NGOs working on the health and Govt. health department and education department is required to eradicate the problem of malnutrition.