Influence of nutrition and socioeconomic status on intellectual development in school children

Abstract

Background: The nutritional adequacy is one of the determinants of quality of human resources everywhere. Malnutrition is the root cause for the death of 6 million children each year in developing countries. Nutritional deficiency is correlated with an increased risk of impaired cognitive function in children. Aims and Objective: To assess the role of nutrition and socioeconomic status on the development of IQ in school children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out in 200 primary school children aged 5-9 years of both the sexes. The children were grouped into five nutritional grades. The IQ was calculated using Kamat's psychological tests for all the children. Results: The degree of malnutrition shows a definite reduction in IQ development, which is statistically significant. The study showed that declined socioeconomic status further decreases the development of IQ in school children. Conclusion: The study concluded that the nutritional status and the socioeconomic status significantly decline the mental and physical growth of children.

Systematic review and meta‐analysis found that malnutrition was associated with poor cognitive development

“…A longitudinal study assessing 1,674 children by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test showed that only one‐third of children who were stunted in infancy at 1 year of age, recovered by the time they were 5 years old 16 . In another study, the IQ was calculated in 200 children using Kamat's psychological test and 29.3% of those malnourished were classified with below average IQ compared to the 11.5% of children with normal nutritional status 17 . Finally, two studies assessing the IQ by RPCM showed a higher prevalence of malnourished children with below average IQ compared to normal nutritional status (68.7% vs 15.9%) and (83.3% vs 44.3%), respectively 18,19 …”

“…16 In another study, the IQ was calculated in 200 children using Kamat's psychological test and 29.3% of those malnourished were classified with below average IQ compared to the 11.5% of children with normal nutritional status. 17 Finally, two studies assessing the IQ by RPCM showed a higher prevalence of malnourished children with below average IQ compared to normal nutritional status (68.7% vs 15.9%) and (83.3% vs 44.3%), respectively. 18,19 The overall mean score of the studies was 6.5 (range: 5-8), indicating an overall good quality, according to the NOS (Table S2).…”

The value of international cooperation in education

“…Furthermore, malnourished children suffer from deficient motivation, investigative skills and interest. In some districts of India, between 54.5% and 57.65% of children (1-6 years old) are malnourished (Garkal & Shete 2015). Overall, India has four times poor than wealthy residents.…”

Tap Water Consumption Is Associated with Schoolchildren’s Cognitive Deficits in Afghanistan

“…In developing countries, 200 million children aged 5 or less are hindered from reaching their full cognitive development and school achievements [ 1 ] because of social health inequalities [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Their cognitive abilities are plagued by political, socio-economic, educational, and environmental issues that include poverty, malnutrition, violence exposure, and toxic element hazards among the most prominent casualties [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Their cognitive abilities are plagued by political, socio-economic, educational, and environmental issues that include poverty, malnutrition, violence exposure, and toxic element hazards among the most prominent casualties [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Malnutrition is a major health issue as it increases childhood morbidity and mortality (6 million deaths per year in developing countries) and leads to permanent impairment of physical and mental growth [ 21 ], most particularly in low-income countries (LICs) [ 2 , 3 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Socio-economic status (as expressed by poverty status) is the other well-known predictor to impeding children’s cognitive development, as evidenced in LICs such as Chile, Iran, Nepal, India, and Malaysia [ 2 , 3 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”