Factors associated with the academic performance of Nutrition students at a public university in southern Brazil

Abstract

Objective To assess the association of socioeconomic factors, characteristics of the academic trajectory, and curriculum of students of a Nutrition course in the academic performance in the Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes. Methods A study of cross-sectional panels with secondary data (Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019) of 174 graduating students was carried out. Academic performance was classified into two groups, one with a score below the median and another above the median. The differences in median scores according to the variables were tested using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, or non-parametric trend analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of the score variable with the other variables. The analyses were carried out using the Stata version 13.0 program, using a value of p<0.05 for the statistical decision. Results It was observed that the profile of graduating students was composed mainly of female individuals (92.5%), self-declared white (90.8%), and mostly coming from private schools (65.8%). Those who had some type of income obtained a higher score in Exame Nacional de Desempenho dos Estudantes compared to those who did not have an income (61.8 vs. 57.4, respectively, p=0.010), and the curricular change seems to be the main variable in the chances of obtaining a score above the median of the course (OR: 1.92, p=0.046). Conclusion Financial status and curriculum change were associated with the academic performance of the assessed students. These results can be used as a reference for investigations in other institutions, public or private, of different courses and, thus, assist in planning more effective educational policies.