Anthropometric nutritional status, socioeconomic status and academic performance in school children aged 6 to 12 years

Jacksaint S.; Johana Elizabeth V. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2020) · DOI: 10.12873/401saintila

Resumen

Introduction and objective: growth retardation is a manifestation of an affected nutritional status and, in school children, constitutes a public health problem in the world. The relationship between anthropometric nutritional status, socioeconomic status and academic performance in schoolchildren was determined. Materials and methods: a descriptive-correlational study was carried out, a sample 304 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years was considered. The Socioeconomic Level Stratification Survey was used to determine the socioeconomic level. Additionally, the Body Mass Index (BMI) and Size / Age were calculated. The bulletins of the school grades for the 2018 academic year were requested to determine the academic per-Results: the results reveal that schoolchildren have a BMI and Size / Age within the normal range. A statistically significant correlation was found between the socioeconomic level of the parents and the BMI (p = 0.007; rho = 0.154). Also, BMI and academic performance were significantly correlated (p =0.009; rho = -0.149). In addition, Size / Age was correlated with socioeconomic status (p = 0.000; rho = -0.155) and academic performance (p = 0.004; rho = -0.151), respectively. Finally, a correlation was found between socioeconomic status and academic performance (p = 0.005; rho = 0.161). Conclusion: This study adds to the available evidence linking BMI, Size / Age, socioeconomic level with academic performance, emphasizing the consequences attributed to growth retardation and low socioeconomic levels in growth, physical, cognitive and intellectual development in early childhood.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Unión