Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Academic Performance among Primary School Children

Abstract

Introduction: anemia due to iron deficiency is considered a common global risk between primary school children that have a serious effect on their academic performance. The current study aim was to investigate the effect of iron deficiency anemia on academic performance among primary school children. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational research design was used. Materials and methods: included 720 primary school children who selected randomly from two primary schools at Sohag city in October 2019 aged 6 to 12 years. Tools: A structured questionnaire filled in by the parents and the Raven Standards Progressive Matrices test was used to measure cognitive function and school academic performance. Iron level was determined by measuring hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations. Results: In this study most of primary school children 82.0% suffered from intellectual deficit. Academic performance on the Raven Standards Progressive Matrices test was associated significantly with anemia due to iron deficit (p=0.035). A positive significant relationship was found between ferritin values and academic performance between children (p=0.001). Conclusion: anemia due to iron deficiency anemia between children had effect on academic performance impairments. Recommendation: Encourage health educational program for parents about children’s nutritional requirements specially iron requirement and frequent blood testing is required.