Assessing childhood malnutrition in Haiti: Is the United Nations Millennium Goal #4 being met?

Abstract

and the level of cognitive function at a school in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Demographic data was also collected from 175 students between the ages of 5 to 11 years old. Exclusions were those children with a known mental disability. Each student had their hemoglobin levels measured using the STAT-Site Hgb Meter. Cognitive function was measured by the Raven Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM) exam. The CPM exam measures nonverbal intelligence and was selected because it is language independent. Outcomes & Evaluation: The correlation between the level of anemia and the level of cognitive function was .001 showing no correlation. A T-test from the CPM score also showed no significant difference. Of significance (Beta1⁄40.16, t1⁄4 2.5, p1⁄4 0.01) was the correlation between cognitive function and monthly household income. Going Forward: Although the original hypothesis of anemia negatively affecting cognitive function was disproved, it is worthwhile to further investigate the relation between household income and cognitive function. Time spent with parent and child doing homework, the opinion of parents and others in the household on the value of education, and the level of education of the parents are a few of the items that could be considered. Higher incomes resulting in improved nutrition could also contribute to higher hemoglobin levels and higher CPM scores. All of these variables should be studied to show the correlation between household income and cognitive function in children. Funding: Funding was provided through Brigham Young University’s Graduate Research Fellowship. Abstract #: 02SEDH005