Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: School feeding programs have gained popularity in developing countries . Eggs are an inexpensive source of micronutrients and high-quality protein. Therefore, the objective of this study was to gain preliminary data regarding the impact of egg supplementation on growth in primary school students participating in a school feeding program in rural Uganda.Methods: Children (ages 6–9; n = 241) were recruited from three different schools located throughout the Kitgum District of Uganda. All participants in the same school received the same dietary intervention: control (no eggs (0 eggs); n = 56), one egg five days per week (1 egg; n = 89), or two eggs five days per week (2 eggs; n = 96). Height, weight, tricep skinfold thickness (TSF), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were measured monthly over 6 months.Results: Following six months of egg supplementation, participants receiving 2 eggs had a greater increase in height and weight compared to the 0 eggs and 1 egg groups (P < 0.05). In addition, participants receiving 1 egg and 2 eggs had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) increase in MUAC at six months compared to 0 eggs.Conclusion: These results suggest that supplementation with eggs can improve parameters of growth in school-aged children participating in school feeding programs in rural Uganda.Abbreviations: MUAC: Mid-Upper Arm Circumference; TSF: Tricep Skinfold Thickness
Highlights
School feeding programs have gained popularity in developing countries
In the 1 egg group, 6 participants were excluded from data analysis due incomplete data, and in the 2 eggs group 24 participants were not included in data analysis due to incomplete data, two did not eat eggs and one participant transferred to a new school during the intervention
This study found that supplementing young children living in rural Uganda with two-eggs per day, five days per week over six months resulted in a significant increase in height and weight compared to 0 eggs and 1 egg per day, which did not differ
Summary
School feeding programs have gained popularity in developing countries. Eggs are an inexpensive source of micronutrients and high-quality protein. The objective of this study was to gain preliminary data regarding the impact of egg supplementation on growth in primary school students participating in a school feeding program in rural Uganda. Conclusion: These results suggest that supplementation with eggs can improve parameters of growth in school-aged children participating in school feeding programs in rural Uganda. Protein-energy malnutrition is a concern for many children in developing countries, micronutrient malnutrition has been recognized as a more widespread problem [1] This prevalence of malnutrition is linked to poverty, poor diet quality, and little or no intake of animalsource foods [2,3]. School feeding programs are gaining popularity in developing countries such as Uganda [6] Such programs aim to reduce the short-term hunger that negatively impacts concentration span and learning capacity of school children [6]. A recent study found that early stage primary school children attending a Malawian school feeding program for one year had improved catch-up growth in lean muscle mass and improved cognitive outcomes compared to children attending a non-school feeding program school [7]
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