Abstract
The Ghana Demographic Health Survey indicates that the major nutritional challenges in Ghana among school children are protein-energy malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. School Feeding Programmes are one of the main interventions addressing malnutrition and its related effects on children’s health and education. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of Ghana School Feeding Programme on nutritional status of school children in Atwima-Nwabiagya District of Ashanti Region, Ghana. A total of 234 pupils between 9 and 17 years of age, comprising 114 participants and 120 non-participants from three participating and three non-participating schools, respectively, with similar characteristics, took part in the study. It was hypothesized that the nutritional status of participants was better than that of non-participants. Results did not indicate any association between the school lunch and nutritional status. There was no statistically significant difference in the nutritional status of participants and non-participants. The programme did not impact the nutritional status of participants.
Highlights
Good nutrition is essential throughout life for good health and development and an inadequate access to this may result in malnutrition
Results did not indicate any association between the school lunch and nutritional status
The nutritional status of participants and non-participants were not statistically different and the examination of the raw data suggests that the incidence of stunting and underweight were high among both groups
Summary
Good nutrition is essential throughout life for good health and development and an inadequate access to this may result in malnutrition. Malnutrition continues to be a worldwide problem and plays an important role in the health and welfare of individuals. It may result in morbidity, poor academic performance and fewer opportunities for economic development (Wardlaw & Kessel, 2002). The Ghana Demographic Health Survey (1998) indicated that the major nutritional challenges in Ghana among children of school-going age are protein-energy malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. The Ghana Demographic Health Survey (2003) reported that 30% of children of school-going age were stunted and 11% were severely stunted. Access to good nutrition, both at home and through the educational system, is essential and would contribute to the elimination of malnutrition and all its associated health and developmental problems (Ohene-Afoakwa, 2003)
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