The impact of malnutrition on the academic achievement among jordanian students in the primary schools

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the nutritional status of primary school students aged 6-12 years in relation to gender, age, demographic and socioeconomic status, and to assess the relationship between nutritional status of primary school students and their academic achievement Methods: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional design utilizing predictive method was used. A cluster random sample of 453 primary school students was obtained from all public and private primary schools for both genders, in northern Jordan. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were used and educational achievement was measured by “Jordan Certificate of Primary Education”. Results: The result showed that there was a significant and negative correlation between wasting (rpb (451) = -25, p < .01) and thinness (rpb (451) = -.12, p< .01) with academic achievement. Person's correlation coefficient (r) between BMI and academic achievement showed a strong significant and positive correlation (r (451) =.21, p< .001). Multiple hierarchical regression that all variables in the study can predict 28% (R2 = .28) of variance on academic achievement. Conclusion: The vast majority 67.1% of primary school students in this study face nutritional problems that adversely affect their ability to take advantage of the available educational opportunities.