Assessment of Relationship between Nutritional Status and Cognition of Primary School Children in Ilesa, South West, Nigeria

Oluwasola Julius OKE^*, Samuel Ademola ADEGOKE & Oyeku Akibu OYELAMI

Department of Pediatrics, Wesley Guild, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Nigeria

Dr. Oluwasola Julius OKE, Department of Pediatrics, Wesley Guild, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Nigeria.

Keywords: Nutritional Status; Cognition; Children; Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives
Childhood malnutrition poses both short and long term burden to children. Many children have low cognitive function sequel to long term effect of malnutrition. The adverse effects of malnutrition on the cognition of children have not been well researched in Nigeria, hence this study determined the Intelligent Quotient (IQ) and academic performance (AP) of children with malnutrition and compare with that of children without malnutrition.
Material and Methods
The study was done among 1280 randomly selected pupils aged 5-11years in Ilesa. Sociodemographic information was obtained from the parents through a self-administered questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed by measuring weight, for height, height-for-age, weight-for age and weight-forheight z-score of the pupils. Intelligent quotient and Academic Performance were assessed with draw a person test (DAPT) and Continuous assessment (CA) scores respectively.

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