ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH NUTRITIONAL STATUSES AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GURAGE ZONE SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a state of retarded physical development or specific clinical disorder caused by consistent lack of one or more nutrients and also excess amount of nutrients. It was the diminishing health outcome due to deficiency, excess or imbalance of nutrients. Infants, pre-school children, adolescents, pregnant women and elderly people are the persons likely to be malnourished. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess academic performance and its association with nutritional statuses among Primary School Students in Wolkite town Gurage Zone, SNNPR, in year 2015 E.CMethods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 391 participants age between 6-14 years in Wolkite town. A simple random sampling was used to select the participant from the registration book of selected schools. Weight and height of students was measured using standard instruments. The anthropometric measurement was taken in standardized manner by trained professional and two times measurement was taken to validate. The survey data was analyzed using WHO Anthro Plus software version 1.0.4 and SPSS 23.0. Results: A total of 391 school children were enrolled with 99.8% response rate. In this study mean academic performance for the study participant were 62.07(± 10.59 SD). The prevalence of underweight, wasting and stunting was 17.4 %, 12% and 9.7 %, respectively. Stunting with 95%CI AOR= 0.39[95%CI: 0.14, 1.02], absent from school with 95%CI AOR= 0.47[95%CI: 0.25, 0.90], Habit of study with 95%CI AOR= 3.76[95%CI: 1.28, 11.02] and happy going to school with 95%CI AOR=3.76[95%CI: 1.28, 11.02] were significantly associated with Academic performance with P value < 0.05. Conclusion and Recommendation: With regard to academic performance among all studystudents (14 %) and (86%) had poor and good academic performance achievements. Based on the preceding major finding the following conclusion are made in this study showed that Stunting, Absent from school, Habit of study at night time and Happy going to school were significantly associated with academic performance at p-value < 0.05.The recommendation were The zonal health and education bureau should work in collaboration with other organizations (NGOs) to combat malnutrition and to strengthen the positive effect of nutrition on educational achievement of primary school children.