Nutritional and socio-economic determinants of cognitive function and educational achievement of Aboriginal schoolchildren in rural Malaysia

Al-Mekhlafi, Hesham M.; Mahdy, Mohammed A. K.; Sallam, Atiya A.; Ariffin, W A; Al-Mekhlafi, Abdulsalam M.; Amran, Adel A.; Surin, Johari

doi:10.1017/s0007114511001449

Cited by 31 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Children who have mothers with secondary and above educational status have more than two times higher English, Amharic, and average semester scores given that all of the other variables in the model are held constant. This study finding is similar with a study done in Morocco, Malaysia, Iran, and Hawa Gelan, Southwest Ethiopia [15,[19][20][21]. This signifies the importance of educating females in improving the child nutritional status as well as academic achievement.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Nutritional Status and Educational Performance of School-Aged Children in Lalibela Town Primary Schools, Northern Ethiopia

Ayalew¹,

Bayray

Bekele

et al. 2020

International Journal of Pediatrics

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Background. Every student has the potential to do well in school. Failing to provide good nutrition puts them at risk for missing out on meeting that potential and leads to long-term irreversible damage to cognitive development. However, taking action today to provide healthier choices in schools can help set students up for a successful future full of possibilities. So, this study is aimed at assessing the effect of nutritional status on academic performance of school-aged children. Methods. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 05- March 30, 2017 in Lalibela town. A total of 505 primary school students were included in the study. The child anthropometric measures were calculated using AnthroPlus software version 1.0.4 WHO 2007 standards. Bivariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression were fitted. The proportional odds ratio (POR) with a 95% CI and P value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. The overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness was 29.5%, 35.7%, and 29.5%, respectively. In this study, 14.7% of the study participants had low academic achievement in the semester. The multivariable analysis showed that rural residence (POR=0.39; 95% CI: (0.21, 0.75)), not studying regularly (POR=0.49; 95% CI: (0.29, 0.82)), severe underweight (POR=0.25; 95% CI: (0.09, 0.71)), and severe stunting (POR=0.03; 95% CI: (0.01, 0.37)) were associated with decreased odds of high average semester score achievement of school-aged children. Additionally, higher maternal educational status (POR=2.12; 95% CI: (1.10, 4.07)) and family income from 550 to 2999 ETB (POR=1.71; 95% CI: (1.04, 2.81)) were associated with increased odds of high semester average score achievement. Conclusion. Nearly one-third of school-aged children in Lalibela town were stunted, thin, and underweight. Rural place of residence, not studying regularly study, underweight, and stunting were associated with decreased academic achievement. While, family monthly income from 550 to 2999 ETB and higher maternal education status were associated with increased academic achievement.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Nutritional Status and Educational Performance of School-Aged Children in Lalibela Town Primary Schools, Northern Ethiopia

Ayalew¹,

Bayray

Bekele

et al. 2020

International Journal of Pediatrics

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“…Moreover, most students in primary schools in Sinai are daily confronted with obstacles of coping with academic achievement and serious emotional strains as long walk to school. The results were in accordance with previous studies in Egypt, and other countries as in India, Nigeria and Malaysia [34-37], that were discussing potential determinants of educational achievement, and psychosocial problems in rural and urban school children.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Academic Achievement and Psychosocial Profile of Egyptian Primary School Children in South Sinai

Monir

El-Din

El-Alameey

et al. 2016

Open Access Maced J Med Sci

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BACKGROUND:Population of South Sinai has suffered from negligence for many years. Solving educational problems of this population is the main concern nowadays.AIM:To assess academic achievement in primary school children in South Sinai in relation to intelligence and psychosocial profile.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 407 Bedouin and urban students randomly selected from twelve public primary schools in six cities in South Sinai. Intelligence was assessed using Goodenough-Harris test. The midyear Arabic language and Arithmetic scores were used to assess academic achievement. The teachers completed a Pediatric-Symptom Checklist for evaluation of children behaviour.RESULTS:A statistically significant difference in academic achievement (P < 0.001), total psychosocial scores, (P < 0.05), and externalization (P < 0.05) was found between urban and Bedouin students with significant gender differences (P < 0.05). Highly significant positive correlations were observed between IQ percentile and mid-year Arabic language scores and Arithmetic scores (P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations with the total score of PSCL and its subscale scores (externalising, inattention, and internalising behaviour) (P < 0.001) among the students.CONCLUSION:Comorbid academic and psychosocial dysfunction in primary school children were observed in South Sinai. A national strategy to minimise the educational gap between Bedouin and urban areas should be implemented.

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“…Overall, preschool and school-age children, adolescent females and pregnant women are the groups at risk to develop IDA [1,7]. Iron deficiency anaemia in children is associated with decreased physical capacity and growth, impaired immune system, and reduced cognitive functions and learning capacities [8,9]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Vitamin A Supplementation on Iron Status Indices and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2013

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Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world including developed and developing countries. Despite intensive efforts to improve the quality of life of rural and aboriginal communities in Malaysia, anaemia and IDA are still major public health problems in these communities particularly among children. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 250 Orang Asli (aboriginal) schoolchildren in Malaysia to investigate the effects of a single high-dose of vitamin A supplementation (200,000 IU) on iron status indices, anaemia and IDA status. The effect of the supplement was assessed after 3 months of receiving the supplements; after a complete 3-day deworming course of 400 mg/day of albendazole tablets. The prevalence of anaemia was found to be high: 48.5% (95% CI = 42.3, 54.8). Moreover, 34% (95% CI = 28.3, 40.2) of the children had IDA, which accounted for 70.1% of the anaemic cases. The findings showed that the reduction in serum ferritin level and the increments in haemoglobin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were found to be significant among children allocated to the vitamin A group compared to those allocated to the placebo group (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant reduction in the prevalence of IDA by almost 22% than prevalence at baseline was reported among children in the vitamin A group compared with only 2.3% reduction among children in the placebo group. In conclusion, vitamin A supplementation showed a significant impact on iron status indices and IDA among Orang Asli children. Hence, providing vitamin A supplementation and imparting the knowledge related to nutritious food should be considered in the efforts to improve the nutritional and health status of these children as a part of efforts to improve the quality of life in rural and aboriginal communities.

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Nutritional and socio-economic determinants of cognitive function and educational achievement of Aboriginal schoolchildren in rural Malaysia

Cited by 31 publications

References 35 publications

Nutritional Status and Educational Performance of School-Aged Children in Lalibela Town Primary Schools, Northern Ethiopia

Nutritional Status and Educational Performance of School-Aged Children in Lalibela Town Primary Schools, Northern Ethiopia

Academic Achievement and Psychosocial Profile of Egyptian Primary School Children in South Sinai

Effects of Vitamin A Supplementation on Iron Status Indices and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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