Does early linear growth failure influence later school performance? A cohort study in karonga district, Northern Malawi

Abstract

Introduction Stunting or linear growth retardation in childhood is associated with delayed cognitive development due to related causes (malnutrition, illness, poor stimulation), which leads to poor school outcomes at later ages, although evidence of the association between the timing and persistence of stunting and school outcomes within the sub-Saharan African context is limited. Methods Anthropometric data around birth (0–4 months), early (11–16 months) and late childhood (ages 4–8 years) along with school outcomes up until the age of 11 were analysed for a cohort of 1,044 respondents, born between 2002–2004 in Karonga district, Northern Malawi. The schooling outcomes were age at school enrolment, grade repetition in Standard 1 and age-for-grade by age 11. Height-for-Age Z-scores (HAZ) and growth trajectories were examined as predictors, based on stunting (