Full Length Research Paper

Height, weight, body mass index and learning achievement in Kumi district, East of Uganda

Hedwig Acham^1,2, Joyce K. Kikafunda¹, Silas Oluka², Marian K. Malde^3,4, Thorkild Tylleskar⁴

1Department of Food Science and Technology, Makerere University P.O. Box 7062, Kampala - Uganda.

²Department of Science and Technical Education (DOSATE), Makerere University, Box 7062 Kampala-Uganda.

³National Institute of Nutrition and Sea Food Research (NIFES), N-5804 Bergen- Norway.

⁴Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: hacham@educ.mak.ac.ug,  hacham@dosate.mak.ac.ug. Tel.: +256 (0) 772-330-240.

Accepted 8 October, 2007

The objective was to determine the relationship between nutritional status as measured by height-for-age, weight-for-age, body mass index for age (BMI for-age) and learning achievement. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The study was conducted in 34 elementary schools in the district of Kumi, east of Uganda. The subjects included a random selection of 1003 children (457 boys and 546 girls) of grade 4, aged 9-15 years. Standard methods were used to determine height and weight. Height-for-age, weight-for-age and BMI were outcome measures from the height and weight measurements. Learning was assessed in English, Mathematics, life skills and verbal comprehension using a non-standardized method, and was based on the curricular objectives designed by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES), republic of Uganda. Outcome measures of learning were percentage scores obtained, graded according to the system provided by the MOES. Confounding variables (gender and age) were used to stratify the children and associations between nutritional variables and learning were tested for the different areas of learning (P < 0.05). The descriptive results showed significant associations between height, weight, BMI and learning (p < 0.05). The associations were positive for mathematics and English but negative for life skills and verbal comprehension. The negative association between the nutritional variables and the latter two can not be explained. Height, weight and BMI have a significant association with learning, suggesting the importance of nutrition in the education system.

Key words: School children, nutritional status, learning achievement.