Determinants of academic performance in children with sickle cell anaemia

Osita U Ezenwosu,Ifeoma J Emodi,Chidiebere D Osuorah,Anthony N Ikefuna,Barth F Chukwu

doi:10.1186/1471-2431-13-189

Abstract

BackgroundSome factors are known to influence the academic performance of children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). Information on their effects in these children is limited in Nigeria. The factors which influence academic performance of children with SCA in Enugu, Nigeria are determined in this study.MethodsConsecutive children with SCA aged 5–11 years were recruited at the weekly sickle cell clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Their age- and sex- matched normal classmates were recruited as controls. The total number of days of school absence for 2009/2010 academic session was obtained for each pair of pupils from the class attendance register. Academic performance was assessed using the average of the overall scores in the three term examinations of same session. Intelligence ability was determined with Draw-A-Person Quotient (DAPQ) using the Draw-A-Person Test while socio-economic status was determined using the occupational status and educational attainment of each parent.ResultsAcademic performance of children with SCA showed statistically significant association with their socio-economic status (χ2 = 9.626, p = 0.047), and significant correlation with DAPQ (r = 0.394, p = 0.000) and age (r = -0.412, p = 0.000). However, no significant relationship existed between academic performance and school absence in children with SCA (r = -0.080, p = 0.453).ConclusionsAcademic performance of children with SCA is influenced by their intelligence ability, age and socio-economic status but not negatively affected by their increased school absenteeism.

Highlights

Some factors are known to influence the academic performance of children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA)
Ninety children with SCA and ninety controls were drawn from 53 primary schools in Enugu
The results demonstrated a relationship between academic performance and socio-economic class in children with SCA

Summary

Introduction

Some factors are known to influence the academic performance of children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). These factors may include: School absenteeism Frequent school absence has been noted in children with SCA [4,5] It has been reported as an important predictor of academic attainment [6] as children who are despite the significantly high absence rates reported in SCA children by Ogunfowora et al [4] no significant correlation was found between school absence and academic under-achievement. Socio-economic status Poor school performance has been documented to be high among children from poor socio-economic background [3]. Available few reports did not document any relationship between parental social status or education and academic performance of children with SCA [4,6,11]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion