Role of Malnutrition in Shaping Academic Achievement Among Primary School Children: A Nutritional Health Study.

Abstract

Objective: Limited research focuses on the relationship between malnutrition and academic achievement in primary school students in Jordan. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition indicators, including wasting, stunting, thinness, obesity, overweight, and body mass index (BMI), and academic achievement among primary school children in Jordan.

Methods: A correlational study design was used. A cluster random sample of 453 primary school children, aged 6-12 years was recruited. A structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used to measure the study variables. Academic achievement data were retrieved from school records, and malnutrition indicators were calculated using Epi Info software. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the study data.

Results: A significant portion of primary school children were found to be malnourished, with over one-third mildly malnourished, nearly one-third stunted, and more than a quarter facing moderate to severe malnutrition. The multiple regression model accounted for 28% of the variance in academic achievement, with stunting and BMI identified as significant predictors.

Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of early identification of malnutrition to enable timely intervention and the implementation of preventive strategies during the critical early childhood years. Policymakers should also prioritize nutritional interventions to enhance both health and academic achievement of children.