Aproximación al efecto del programa de desayunos escolares sobre el rendimiento intelectual en alumnos de educación inicial y primaria del Perú

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the effects of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) on the intellectual performance of elementary and primary level school students attended by SBP in Peru, during 2001. Materials and Methods: In this analytic cross-sectional study we assessed students of 4 to 13 years (chosen using multi-stage probabilistic sample) from districts attended by SBP, with the Catell 1 (4-8 years) and Catell 2 (9-13 years) cognitive tests, and we calculated the average of total scores and scores for each subtest included in this test. Two methods were used for the identification of children that received the intervention: teacher's evidence of "usual consumption" of the school breakfast and the observation of the consumption during the day of the assessment. Results: 1787 school students were evaluated: 922 of elementary and 865 of primary eduactional level. The proportion of girls and boys was similar. Recent consumption of breakfast showed positive effects in the total scores and specific subtests in Coast and Jungle students of elementary level, using Catell 1 test and in primary level students from the Coast, using Catell 2 test. Regular consumption showed positive effects in the total scores and in the specific tests in elementary school students of Coast and Jungle, using Catell 1 test. Conclusions: There are positive effects due to recent consumption and regular consumption of PDE ration on the intellectual performance, showing a greater effect in students of elementary level and in Coast and Jungle study sites.