Factors Affecting the Nutritional Status of School-aged Children Belonging to Farming Households in the Philippines

Abstract

Undernutrition among school-aged children continues to be a public health concern in the Philippines, where agriculture is the primary source of income. School-age is a crucial phase of development and growth among children since it can establish nutritional knowledge and healthy eating habits across the next life stages. Evidence suggested that undernutrition exists among school-aged children belonging to households relying on agriculture. This study aims to identify factors affecting the nutritional status of school children belonging to farming households. The data set from the 2015 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups of the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) consisting of 1,689 school children belonging to farming households was used in this study. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine significant factors affecting the nutritional status of school-aged children while holding other variables constant. Household wealth index and age were significantly associated with underweight and wasting. Meanwhile, poor dietary diversity score was also an essential confounding factor between socioeconomic status with underweight and stunting but not wasting. The study’s findings can provide empirical evidence that the most important underlying causes of undernutrition among school-aged children belonging to farming households were wealth index and food availability. It is recommended that their investments be made in addition to livelihood for families relying on agriculture and provide them better access to government services to diminish the existing issues of scarcity.