The Impact of School Meal Programs on Educational Outcomes in African Schoolchildren: A Systematic Review

Caitlin Wall, Terezie Tolar-Peterson, Nicole Reeder, Marina Roberts, Abby Reynolds and Gina Rico Mendez
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Caitlin Wall: Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
Terezie Tolar-Peterson: Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
Nicole Reeder: Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
Marina Roberts: Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
Abby Reynolds: Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
Gina Rico Mendez: Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Malnutrition and hunger can lower a child’s ability to learn effectively. Many countries in Africa experience high rates of childhood undernutrition, and school feeding programs are a common tool used to address this challenge. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effect of school-provided meals on educational outcomes in preschool and primary school children. Specific outcomes of interest in this review included test scores, attendance, and enrollment rates. PubMed and Scopus were used for an electronic search of relevant studies. Studies included in this review were randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, controlled before-after studies, and pre/post-test design studies published in the past 10 years in English in sub-Sahara Africa. Findings from the nine studies included in this review suggest a positive correlation between school feeding programs and educational outcomes. Although mealtime may reduce classroom time, the benefits of providing a meal outweigh the potential loss of learning time because hungry children may not learn as effectively. In conclusion, it is recommended that school meal programs be implemented and expanded. To improve general wellbeing and learning capabilities of children, school meals should be employed starting at a young age. More research on school feeding programs is needed concerning the preschool age group (2–5 years), as there is a limited amount of information in this area.

Keywords: school feeding program; education; education outcomes; attendance; enrollment; preschool; primary school; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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