Education Of School-age Children Research Articles

Education of endurance in children of middle school age in lessons of physical culture

The influence of a set of exercises on the development of endurance of secondary school students is revealed in the article. One of the factors that adversely affects the health of school-age children is the low mobility of life. Therefore, physical education occupies a special place in the system of physical education of school-age children. Physical fitness testing is an element of stage control both in the sports training system and in the practice of physical education. However, the ability of children of different ages to exercise some physical activity is limited by the adaptive potential of the growing organism's systems, and as practice shows, the reserve capacity of the student body is significantly reduced, which negatively affects the physical qualities of children, and especially endurance. Endurance is considered one of the basic motor abilities of the person. The endurance index with great precision indicates the overall health of the person and the functionality of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Analyzing the indicators of the level of endurance development in the studied contingent of children it is established that the level of endurance development of students of 4-5 grades, is equal to the mark of 3 points, which corresponds to the "average level". The study shows changes in the level of endurance development in students engaged in the recommended complexes and the relationship of endurance types with indicators of overall physical performance. The results of the correlation analysis showed the presence of a high correlation of static endurance with dynamic endurance (r = 0,883). Also, a high statistical relationship is observed in the study of the relationship of dynamic strength endurance and speed-endurance (r = 0,858). Preparing a physically healthy and in all respects advanced generation is an important task of our society. Properly organized physical education and sports, which should be included in the daily life of young people from an early age, occupy the first place in this task.

КВЕСТ-ЕКСКУРСІЯ ЯК ІНТЕРАКТИВНА ФОРМА НАВЧАННЯ ШКОЛЯРІВ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ АРХЕОЛОГІЧНОГО МУЗЕЮ ІА НАН УКРАЇНИ)

Today, in the struggle for visitors, museums have begun to actively use new forms of work and educational technologies. Museum - is a means of non-formal education that provides cultural, educational, intellectual, aesthetic needs of society. The introduction of innovations allows him to move away from traditional forms of exhibiting collections, diversifies forms of work, helps to increase competitiveness and the level of visitor service. With the help of interactive methods, it is possible to make museum events more interesting for the audience, transforming them from a passive spectator to an active one. One such method is a quest-excursion. This article considers the quest as an innovative form of work in the excursion activities of the Archaeological Museum of the IA NAS of Ukraine. Awareness of the educational potential of innovative methods and technologies prompted us to develop a quest and introduce it to the work of our museum. The example of a quest-excursion, created as part of the museum project "Archaeological Adventures – Interactive Activities", shows how to acquaint students with the history of human material culture in the form of an active game based on archaeological artifacts, written sources and scientifically proven facts. This form of working with visitors is extremely interesting and has many advantages. The universality of the quest is that in a relatively short period of time it is possible to learn a large layer of historical information and become interested in the exhibits, their history and origin. During the quest, children have the opportunity to communicate more, to express their own opinions. They develop independence and self-sufficiency, the ability to actively use in life the acquisition of skills and competencies. In pedagogical practice, the possibilities of interactive form of work with students in museum institutions of scientific institutions are often underestimated. Involvement of the quest game in the education of school-age children will allow to intensify the educational process and improve the perception of the studied material, in particular in historical disciplines.

Pirzi Doll”: A Method for Increasing Children’s Knowledge and Attitude in Balanced Nutrition

Nutrition is one of the main problems in the world, where the number of malnourished patients reaches less than 104 million children and one third of all causes of child mortality worldwide are still caused by malnutrition. Nutrition knowledge in school-aged children is one of the factors determining patterns food consumption and nutritional status. Nutrition education in school-aged children can improve children's nutritional knowledge and play a role in food selection and eating habits. Nutrition education should start from an early age. Nutrition and health education began to be directed at kindergarten and elementary school students, since this age group has a habit of attitude that is relatively easy to be formed. This study aims to determine the effect of nutrition education by story’s telling with pirzi doll media to increase knowledge and attitude of children about balanced nutrition. This study used quasi-experimental design with two group pre and post-test design sampling was carried out with a systematic random sampling. Sample of research were children enrolled in Kindergarten IT Rabbani and IT Menara Fitrah in Ogan Ilir District. There were 37 samples on control group dan 39 samples on experimental group. The results of statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney test. The mean score of knowledge after being given a nutritional education was 26.15 ± 3.10 in the experimental group and in the control group was 26.05± 3.16 (p-value=0.817). The mean score of attitudes after being given a nutritional education was 13.69 ± 1.97 in the experimental group and in the control group was 11.24 ± 3.67 (p-value=0.002). There was no difference in mean score of knowledge between the experimental and control groups after being given a nutritional education. There was a difference in mean values of attitudes between the experimental and control groups after being given a nutritional education.

School Health Program in Nigeria: A Review of Its Implementation for Policy Improvement

Background: The School Health Program (SHP) contributes to overall goals and purposes of health and education of the school-age children who constitute about 23% of Nigerian population. Its effective implementation is enhanced by school health policy which provides the standards/guidelines for its practices and procedures. The National School Health Policy (NSHPo) in Nigeria was adopted in 2006 to achieve these purposes. Several studies had reviewed different components of the program in different aspectsparts of the country with varying findings but no countrywide report exists. It is essential to ascertain the present state of the SHP implementation in Nigeria by pooling available relevant studies for evidence-based decision making. The purpose of this review paper is to synthesize available information on implementation of the program across Nigeria for the purpose of policy review and program improvement. Methods: A comprehensive review of relevant literature was done to identify the implementation of the SHP across the country. Relevant implementation drivers were also reviewed. Results: The implementation of SHP across the country was sub-optimal. Conclusion: The SHP in Nigeria has largely remained at policy level with minimal implementation. Recommendation: There is a need to re-establish or strengthen the program in the country. There is also a need to review and redefine stakeholders’ participation for effective coordination. This may call for policy review and/or change.

Perancangan Hybrid Mobile Application Penghubung Orang tua dan Guru pada Sekolah Taman Kanak-Kanak

Orang tua dan guru merupakan sosok utama dalam pendidikan anak usia sekolah. Di sekolah, guru yang berperan dalam mendidik siswa, namun diluar sekolah orang tualah yang bertanggungjawab dalam mendidik anaknya. Oleh sebab itu komunikasi antara orang tua siswa dan guru merupakan hal yang sangat penting. Pada kenyataannya, banyak hal yang menjadi penghalang dalam komunikasi antara guru dan orang tua siswa. Kesibukan dan keterbatasan waktu menjadi salah satu penghalang yang paling besar. Dibutuhkan adanya sebuah sistem yang dapat memfasilitasi guru dan orang tua siswa, sehingga komunikasi antara guru dan orang tua siswa dapat berjalan dengan lancar dan proses belajar mengajar dapat berjalan dengan baik. Penelitian ini membangun sebuah aplikasi yang bertujuan untuk memfasilitasi komunikasi antara guru dan orang tua siswa dengan menggunakan teknologi mobile hybrid. Teknologi mobile hybrid dipilih karena dapat menjadi solusi untuk pengembangan aplikasi yang dapat digunakan pada berbagai platform yang tersedia pada smartphone seperti Android, ios dan Windows. Metode yang digunakan dalam pengembangan sistem ini adalah SDLC (System Development Life Cycle) dengan model waterfall dengan tahapan-tahapan analisis, perancangan, implementasi dan pemeliharaan sistem. Hasil perancangan ini berupa sebuah aplikasi yang dapat digunakan pada berbagai platform smartphone, yang dapat memfasilitasi komunikasi antara guru dan orang tua siswa.
 Kata-kata kunci: Mobile hybrid, aplikasi sekolah

Integrated delivery of school health interventions through the school platform: Investing for the future.

School health and nutrition (SHN) programmes are recognized as a significant contributor to both health and education sector goals. The school system offers an ideal platform from which to deliver basic health interventions that target the most common health conditions affecting school-age children (SAC) in low-income countries, leading to improved participation and learning outcomes. However, governments require evidence to cost, design, and implement these programmes. In Ethiopia, prevalent health conditions affecting SAC's education participation and learning outcomes include infection with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), hunger, and malnutrition. In recognition of the multiple issues affecting the health and education of SAC, the government has taken a proactive approach, coordinating an integrated SHN programme designed to be implemented in partnership and monitored and financed through a single, integrated mechanism. The programme, known as the Enhanced School Health Initiative (ESHI), integrates three complimentary health interventions: deworming; school feeding; and provision of a water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) package in schools, which in delivery aim to maximize the benefits of each of the individual components. Operational research surrounding the ESHI programme includes both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Here, we present an overview of the ESHI programme and its genesis. We also introduce three additional supporting papers that provide in-depth analyses of key findings, including the baseline situational analysis, the costs, and community perceptions of the programme. The findings from ESHI provide initial evidence to develop an understanding of the related costs and synergies of integrating multiple health interventions onto a single platform. The work has translated into strengthened institutional capacity and improved cross-sectoral coordination. The government is now committed to supporting 25 million school children in Ethiopia through SHN. The ESHI model serves as a reference point for other countries looking to scale up targeted SHN interventions.

Improving the Empowerment of Breeders with Base of Local Problem Potency through Student Service Learning

Community empowerment activities of breeders by Bogor Agricultural University students in the form of Student Service Learning (CSP) in Lebak District is intended to improve their empowerment. In particular the purpose of CSP is to identify the potency and problems faced by breeders, to carry out community empowerment activities of breeders, and to analyze the impact of these activities. Activity methods include identification of potentials and problems, discussions, practices, and simulations. The results of this empowerment activity shows that the potential of livestock that can be developed in Lebak Regency is cattle, buffalo, goat, and chicken. But the obstacle is the knowledge of breeders on the management of livestock raising is still low, especially in the prevention of livestock disease, appropriate feeding, livestock waste management, and livestock processing. Implementation of community empowerment activities based on the results of identification process of potential and problems. Furthermore, it is done by using various methods, in the form of lectures, discussions and practices. The objective of the activity also focus to management as a whole and extends to the young generation and housewives, such as livestock education for school age children and livestock processing (nugget) for women. These activities have a positive impact on the community, such as improving the knowledge and skills of the community in managing their livestock business, such as arranging cages, feeding, processing of animal waste into organic fertilizer, processing of livestock products into fast food, and increasing knowledge and interest of young people in the field farming through counseling to school-aged children. The follow-up is to intensify this activity by the residents themselves and facilitated by extension workers and village officials, so that it adopted by many breeders.

Conceptions naïves de la pollution chez les enfants de 7 à 12 ans : une étude de leurs dessins

The purpose of this study was to examine children's naive conceptions of pollution, as reflected in their drawings of a polluated landscape. Unlike previous studies that have used interviews and questionnaires to assess children's conceptions of air and water pollution, the present study used drawing to examine children's views on environmental pollution. We used the « draw-and-explain » technique with 100 school-aged children (7–12 years) who were living in urban areas in Morocco (Study 1), and with 60 school-aged children (9–12 years) who were living in rural areas in Morocco (Study 2). Children had to draw a normal and then a polluated landscape, and explained what they drew. The results showed a significant change with age in the number and in the type of graphic changes introduced by children to draw a polluated landscape. There was also a significant effect of the living area (urban/rural) on these measures. The young children (7–8 years) mostly constructed non differentiated conceptions (where pollution equated dirt) whereas the older children demonstrated richer and differenciated conceptions which included an increasing number of causes and consequences of pollution. Rural children introduced less numerous changes in their drawings of the polluated landscape, and their differenciated conceptions of pollution included less numerous sources of pollution than those of urban children of the same age. These findings suggest that the drawing of a polluated landscape is a valuable source of information to study children's naïves conceptions of environmental pollution. We discussed our results in reference to previous works on naive conceptions and conceptual change, as well as their implications for environmental education in school-aged children.

SRATEGI KEPALA SEKOLAH DI DAERAH PEDESAAAN UNTUK MENINGKATKAN MUTU PENDIDIKAN DAN KARAKTER WARGA SEKOLAHNYA

This study aimed at determining what strategies are used by the headmaster who served in rural areas with various challenges faced to improve the quality of education and character of the citizens of the school in accordance with the goals of national education. This research was a qualitative research, where in this paper researchers see the steps and efforts made by the headmaster while facing an event that is happening. Data collection technique in this study was interview to the principal of SD Negeri 17 Air Kumbang. From the results of the research, it can be seen that the strategy done by the headmaster of SD Negeri 17 Air Kumbang to improve the quality of education and character of the students is settle in the location where he served, socialize the surrounding community about the importance of education in school-aged children, improve the qualification of teachers, improving the competence of students and graduates, improving the character of students and teachers through extracurricular activities scouting and completing facilities and infrastructure in schools.

Prerequisites for the development of the concept of health-forming technologies in the process of adaptive physical education of school-age children with hearing impairment

Prerequisites for the development of the concept of health-forming technologies in the process of adaptive physical education of school-age children with hearing impairment

Integrative Review of Sex Education for School Age Children

Purpose: This study is an integrative review to analyze articles about sex education for school age children in Korean journals. This study explored the year, methods, major variables and key findings of previous studies. Methods: Five electronic databases and eleven journals of nursing in Korean language were searched to find studies done until 2017. 75 papers published from 1995 to 2017 were selected (43 were survey studies and 32 were intervention studies). Results: Among the intervention studies, there was no RCT study. Most intervention studies were conducted to change sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes. Among the survey studies, Q methodology and content analysis were used. The subjects' sexual knowledge and sexual consciousness were measured low in some studies. The sex education for school age children was composed of elementary school students' perception, understanding and needs related to sex. In addition, sex education was carried out to improve students’ informational aspects such as sexual knowledge, prevention of sexual violence and secondary sexual character as well as emotional aspects such as sexual attitude. But research on sexual consciousness, sexual values and sexual identity was insufficient. Conclusion: In order to develop an effective sex education program for school age children, it is necessary to consider the degree of their perception, understanding and needs and reflect both the social and cultural aspects as well as the informational and emotional aspects.

The level of literacy of the adult population of the Orenburg region according to the materials of the first Soviet census

This paper analyzes the evolution of literacy in different categories of the Orenburg region adult population according to the censuses in 1920, 1926 and 1939 as well as the influence of the educational policy of the Soviet state. The analysis of the census gives an opportunity to give literacy demographic characteristics: gender, age, nationality, social status, occupation, etc. The author notes that the proclamation of compulsory education principle for illiterate adults and the organization of universal education for school-age children gave an opportunity for education to all categories of the Soviet Russian population. Literacy level started to rise; it was reflected in the census. The censuses of 1926, 1939 showed that literacy level of certain age groups in different generations rose after the October revolution. The paper has a certain pattern: the older the generation age was, the higher the level of literacy was. Generalized materials of the first Soviet censuses allow us to conclude that the effect of positive and negative factors in the education of children and illiterate adults was different in urban and rural areas. As a rule, more women and men had a chance for education in urban areas. The results of the study allow us to conclude on the impact of the Soviet government activities to adult education.

Correlation between Obesity, Diet, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour among School-aged Children and Young Adolescents in Macedonia

Diet and physical activity education in school-aged children and young adolescents are in the focus of the modern healthcare and education system. The aims of our cross-section study were to estimate the prevalence of obesity in youth, and the significant correlation between nutrition status, health behavioural and biological markers. The sample size was 400 randomly selected school-aged children and adolescent from 14 to 18 years old. They were divided into two population groups of school-aged children (12-13 years old) and young adolescent (17-18 years). Standardized, non-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the International Questionnaire for assessment of Physical Activity (IPAQ-short version) were used as well as the anthropometric measurements: body weight and height, body mass index (BMI kg/m2) presented in percentile using the WHO Child Growth Standards. Statistical analysis was included descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis using SPSS Statistics 17.0. In accordance with the distribution of Pearson Chi-square=16.94 (p<0.001), there was statistical significance between nutritional status of study participants in both, first and second study groups. Also, there was significant difference in high intensity sports activity between two groups (Pearson Chi-square=26.59; p<0.001). Sedentary behaviour had the highest influence on development of childhood obesity (Wald=2.81; p=0.09). Significant correlation was estimated between obesity and sweetness food (pasta, rise and potatoes), soft drinks, but drinking water had a protective effect. Prevention and treatment of pediatric overweight and obesity require systems-level approaches that include the skills of registered dietitians, sports coaches as well as consistent and integrated messages and environmental support across all sectors of society, especially educational sector. The next step is to develop an innovative “Skills for health” model including nutrition and physical activity education program in Macedonia.

The Decision to Invest in Child Quality over Quantity: Household Size and Household Investment in Education in Vietnam

During Vietnam's two decades of rapid economic growth, its fertility rate has fallen sharply at the same time that its educational attainment has risen rapidly—macro trends that are consistent with the hypothesis of a quantity-quality tradeoff in child-rearing. We investigate whether the micro-level evidence supports the hypothesis that Vietnamese parents are in fact making a tradeoff between quantity and “quality” of children. We present private tutoring—a widespread education phenomenon in Vietnam—as a new measure of household investment in children's quality, combining it with traditional measures of household education investments. To assess the quantity-quality tradeoff, we instrument for family size using the commune distance to the nearest family planning center. Our IV estimation results based on data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Surveys (VHLSSs) and other sources show that rural families do indeed invest less in the education of school-age children who have larger numbers of siblings. This effect holds for several different indicators of educational investment and is robust to different definitions of family size, identification strategies, and model specifications that control for community characteristics as well as the distance to the city center. Finally, our estimation results suggest that private tutoring may be a better measure of quality-oriented household investments in education than traditional measures like enrollment, which are arguably less nuanced and less household-driven.

Increasing physical activity for osteoporosis prevention among female students of Isfahan: A theory-based interventional study

Background: Undoubtedly regular physical activity has a crucial role in the prevention of many diseases, especially osteoporosis and also increasing mental and physical efficiency. Considering the importance of physical activity education for school age children, this study was performed to determine effect of health education on knowledge, perceptions and practice of the second grade middle schools' girl students in Isfahan related to osteoporosis preventive physical activity. Methodology: This is a quasi-experimental interventional study was conducted in Isfahan (2010). The research population encompasses 130 students that were randomly divided to groups, experimental (n = 66) and control (n = 64). The instruments for data collection were standard health belief model (HBM)-based scale and physical activity questionnaire. The standard scale was completed 3 times (before, immediately and 2 months after education) and physical activity questionnaire was completed 2 times (before and 2 months after education) by students of both groups. After pre-test, 4 educational sessions were performed in an experimental group. Finally, data collected and analysed by SPSS 16 software. Participation of individuals in this research was voluntary and with informed consent. Results: Findings showed that demographic characteristics of studied population in two groups were similar before intervention (P > 0.05). Before intervention, there were no significant differences between the scores of HBM structures in two groups (P> 0.001). After the intervention, it was observed significant differences in the levels of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and behaviour between experimental and control groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: According results, intervention has a positive impact on the pattern of physical activity and it can be concluded that intervention is effective in increasing/improving the knowledge, individual perceptions and practice of the students.

Jogo educativo para escolares: uma proposta interativa na consulta de enfermagem

Health education through games is an alternative non-traditional educational practice where nurses work in different environments of their practice. This research aims to study the seizure of the ludic in health education for school age children in the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). General Aim: From the knowledge of children, formulate a game shaped playful instrument about healthy habits in health, and specific aims: to describe the risk factors for NCDs to which school age children are exposed in their environments, according to children themselves, and analyze their knowledge about healthy living that can make them co-responsible for their own health. It is a qualitative, descriptive research, the action-research type. The setting was a Military Polyclinic in Niteroi. 19 children ranging from 7 to 12 years old who agreed to participate of the study and whose parents signed the free and informed consent form were interviewed. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee under No. 411723. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Content analysis using Bardin generated two categories: Between the ideal and the real and The environment interfaces to health and noticed that children understand ideal healthy behaviors and those daily practiced, strategies against exposure to harmful habits and influences on behavior. The high incidence of NCDs affects people economy and quality of life; so, to analyze the trend of risk factors and these children knowledge enabled to understand generating interfaces of healthy behaviors. Experiencing situations, children grasp concepts, attitudes, care, causes and consequences and rear knowledge, initial step in prevention. Learning something, children become aware of a new world and formulate hypotheses and concepts structuring a liberating consciousness, endowed with understanding to make choices. Designed categories allowed the making of the product of this research: an educational game on health. It is concluded that health education through a game, in a playful and fun way, where child creates and recreates sharing knowledge and doubts, is an excellent method to work on the improvement of people quality of life, what may achieve excellent results excellent results when associated with other actions that support advances in the lives of these people

The Decision to Invest in Child Quality Over Quantity: Household Size and Household Investment in Education in Vietnam

During Vietnam's two decades of rapid economic growth, its fertility rate has fallen sharply at the same time that its educational attainment has risen rapidly -- macro trends that are consistent with the hypothesis of a quantity-quality tradeoff in child-rearing. This paper investigates whether the micro-level evidence supports the hypothesis that Vietnamese parents are in fact making a tradeoff between quantity and quality of children. The paper presents data on private tutoring -- a widespread education phenomenon in Vietnam -- as a new measure of household investment in children's quality combining it with traditional measures of household education investments. To assess the quantity-quality tradeoff, the paper instruments for family size using the distance to the nearest family planning center. IV estimation results based on data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Surveys (VHLSSs) and other sources show that families do indeed invest less in the education of school-age children who have larger numbers of siblings. This effect holds for several different indicators of educational investment and is robust to different definitions of family size, identification strategies, and model specifications that control for community characteristics as well as the distance to the city center. Finally, estimation results suggest that tutoring may be a better measure of quality-oriented household investments in education than traditional measures like enrolment, which are arguably less nuanced and less household-driven.

Improving educational achievement and anaemia of school children: design of a cluster randomised trial of school-based malaria prevention and enhanced literacy instruction in Kenya.

BackgroundImproving the health of school-aged children can yield substantial benefits for cognitive development and educational achievement. However, there is limited experimental evidence on the benefits of school-based malaria prevention or how health interventions interact with other efforts to improve education quality. This study aims to evaluate the impact of school-based malaria prevention and enhanced literacy instruction on the health and educational achievement of school children in Kenya.DesignA factorial, cluster randomised trial is being implemented in 101 government primary schools on the coast of Kenya. The interventions are (i) intermittent screening and treatment of malaria in schools by public health workers and (ii) training workshops and support for teachers to promote explicit and systematic literacy instruction. Schools are randomised to one of four groups: receiving either (i) the malaria intervention alone; (ii) the literacy intervention alone; (iii) both interventions combined; or (iv) control group where neither intervention is implemented. Children from classes 1 and 5 are randomly selected and followed up for 24 months. The primary outcomes are educational achievement and anaemia, the hypothesised mediating variables through which education is affected. Secondary outcomes include malaria parasitaemia, school attendance and school performance. A nested process evaluation, using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and a stakeholder analysis will investigate the community acceptability, feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the interventions.DiscussionAcross Africa, governments are committed to improve health and education of school-aged children, but seek clear policy and technical guidance as to the optimal approach to address malaria and improved literacy. This evaluation will be one of the first to simultaneously evaluate the impact of health and education interventions in the improvement of educational achievement. Reflection is made on the practical issues encountered in conducting research in schools in Africa.Trial RegistrationNational Institutes of Health NCT00878007

Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on Special Education in School-Aged Children

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on special education at age 7 with adjustment for covariates. As part of the prospective, longitudinal, multisite study of children with prenatal cocaine exposure (Maternal Lifestyle Study), school records were reviewed for 943 children at 7 years to determine involvement in special education outcomes: (1) individualized education plan; (2) special education conditions; (3) support services; (4) special education classes; and (5) speech and language services. Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on these outcomes with environmental, maternal, and infant medical variables as covariates, as well as with and without low child IQ. Complete data for each analysis model were available for 737 to 916 children. When controlling for covariates including low child IQ, prenatal cocaine exposure had a significant effect on individualized education plan. When low child IQ was not included in the model, prenatal cocaine exposure had a significant effect on support services. Male gender, low birth weight, white race, and low child IQ also predicted individualized education plan. Low birth weight and low child IQ were significant in all models. White race was also significant in speech and language services. Other covariate effects were model specific. When included in the models, low child IQ accounted for more of the variance and changed the significance of other covariates. Prenatal cocaine exposure increased the likelihood of receiving an individualized education plan and support services, with adjustment for covariates. Low birth weight and low child IQ increased the likelihood of all outcomes. The finding that white children were more likely to get an individualized education plan and speech and language services could indicate a greater advantage in getting educational resources for this population.

The Partnership for Child Development and the relationship between health and cognitive development

The Partnership for Child Development (PCD) is an international initiative to improve the health and education of school-age children. Helminth infections are one of the most significant health problems affecting schoolchildren in developing countries because these children bear the heaviest infections of any age group, and because the infection can affect learning. This paper reviews studies of the effects of helminths on cognitive function and details findings from one study in Tanzania, which addressed potential methodological shortcomings of associational studies in this area. This study found that children with a heavy S. haematobium (schistosomiasis) infection had significantly lower scores than uninfected children in two tests of verbal short-term memory and two reaction time tasks. In one of these tests, the effect was greatest for children with poor nutritional status. These findings fit in broadly with other studies of helminth infection and cognitive function. We conclude that verbal short-term memory and speed of processing are the cognitive domains most likely to be affected by worm infections. Deworming children may be an effective way to improve their cognitive abilities and thus their performance at school. Keywords: cognitive function, educational achievement, helminth infections, observational studies, schoolchildren, TanzaniaJournal of Psychology in Africa 2005, 15(1): 89–99