Abstract
Nutritional status is the best indicator of the global well-being of children. However, malnutrition affects physical growth, cognitive development, physical work capacity, and it consequently influences human performance and health. The present study was designed to identify factors that may influence the nutritional status and educational achievements of the children in a rural area of ANTI Atlas of Morocco. The nutritional status of 162 children (12 to 15 years of age) was assessed by nutritional anthropometry and compared with tables of weight-for-age and height-for-age z-scores (WAZ and HAZ) identifying wasting and stunting, respectively. A questionnaire was developed to collect information about socio-economic and demographic status of the children’s families. Also, educational achievements were assessed by their score in mathematics. A total of 162 children (64 boys and 98 girls), aged 12 –15 years. Results revealed 22.8% of stunting and 35.2% of wasting. Child age (p = 0.027), illiteracy of the mother (p = 0.004) was determinant factors with wasting. Stunting was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.03) and parents’ employment (p = 0.009). However, using logistic regression analysis, the results showed that stunting (p = 0.04) and mother level of education (p = 0.032) were significantly correlated with school achievements.In this area of study, malnutrition remains a major problem among adolescents’ school performances, which can affect their future. The main causes of malnutrition seem to be the bad weaning practices among school children and cultural attitudes of food. The educational achievements of school children are influenced by maternal education and stunting.
Highlights
Child malnourishment remains a leading public health concern in developing countries
The educational achievements of school children are influenced by maternal education and stunting
The deficiency in nutritional status of a child is the result of macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies from inadequate food consumption or from illnesses such as diarrhea [2]
Summary
Child malnourishment remains a leading public health concern in developing countries. The deficiency in nutritional status of a child is the result of macronutrient (calories and protein) and micronutrient (vitamins, iodine, and iron) deficiencies from inadequate food consumption or from illnesses such as diarrhea [2]. It is quantified using the anthropometric indices of height for age, weight for age, and weight for height; all are expressed as a Z-score, which compare a child’s measurements with the measurements of a similar child in a reference, healthy population [3]. A low weight for age Z-score (underweight) reflects both stunting and wasting [4]
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