Prevalence of Stunting and Relationship between Stunting and Associated Risk Factors with Academic Achievement and Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study with South African Primary School Children

Johanna Beckmann, Christin Lang, Rosa du Randt, Annelie Gresse, Kurt Z. Long, Sebastian Ludyga, Ivan Müller, Siphesihle Nqweniso, Uwe Pühse, Jürg Utzinger, Cheryl Walter and Markus Gerber
Additional contact information
Johanna Beckmann: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Christin Lang: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Rosa du Randt: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6019, South Africa
Annelie Gresse: Department of Dietetics, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
Kurt Z. Long: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Sebastian Ludyga: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Ivan Müller: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Siphesihle Nqweniso: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6019, South Africa
Uwe Pühse: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
Jürg Utzinger: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Cheryl Walter: Department of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6019, South Africa
Markus Gerber: Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Childhood stunting can have negative long-term consequences on cognitive development, academic achievement, and economic productivity later in life. We determined the prevalence of stunting and examined whether stunting and associated risk factors (low dietary diversity, insufficient hemoglobin, food insecurity, and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections) are associated with academic achievement and cognitive function among South African children living in marginalized communities. A cross-sectional sample of 1277 children (aged 5–12 years) was analyzed. Stunting was defined according to 2007 WHO growth references. Cognitive functioning was measured with the computerized Flanker task and academic performance via school grades. Blood and stool samples were collected to obtain hemoglobin level and STH infection. Dietary diversity was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Associations were examined via mixed linear regression (with school class as a random intercept). Nine percent of the children were stunted (95% CI: 7.6–10.8%). Low dietary diversity (? = 0.13, p = 0.004), food insecurity (? = ?0.12, p = 0.034), and stunting (? = ?0.13, p = 0.031) were associated with poorer end of the year results among girls. No such associations were found among boys. No significant associations were found for socioeconomic status and hemoglobin levels. The prevalence of stunting and STH infections were low in the present sample. Risk factors seem differently associated with girls’ and boys’ academic achievement. Promoting nutrition may help to promote academic achievement among girls living in low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords: dietary diversity; food insecurity; hemoglobin; socioeconomic status; soil-transmitted helminth infections (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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