Charles Patrick Makoutode*, Daniel Agueh, Luc Djogbenou, Colette Azandjeme and Jacques Saizonou

Regional Institute of Public Health - Slaves Road Ouidah, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin

*Corresponding Author: Charles Patrick Makoutode, Regional Institute of PublicHealth - Slaves Road Ouidah, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin.

Received: April 14, 2021; Published: March 30, 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Food is recognized as an essential factor for school performance because poor nutrition among school-aged children seriously compromises their health and their ability to learn. The purpose of this study was to compare nutritional status and academic performance in schools with and without school canteens; and identify factors associated to school performance.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study which took place from May 26 to June 12, 2020 in public primary schools in rural Ouidah districts with or without government school canteens. A total of 366 pupils were surveyed, including 183 in canteen schools and 183 in schools without canteens. Data on nutritional status, school performance, socio-demographic characteristics, individual characteristics and diet were collected.

Results: The prevalence of thinness was higher in schools without canteens (44.81%) compared to schools with canteens (28.96%). The prevalence of stunting was also higher in schools without canteens (26.23%) compared to schools with canteens (19.67%). However, overweight was higher in canteen schools (1.09%) compared to schools without canteens (0.00%). Academic performance was acceptable among 51.37% of pupils in canteen schools, compared with 40.44% among pupils not benefiting from the school canteen project. In multivariate regression, factors associated to academic performance were, the sixth-grade class (OR = 12,03 avec IC 95% = [4,15-34,82]), moderate chronic malnutrition (OR = 6,67 avec IC 95% = [2,12-21,00]), the consumption of meat, fish or eggs 3 to 6 times a week (OR = 0,13 avec IC 95% = [0,01-0,97]), non-consumption of legumes in a week (OR = 9,12 avec IC 95% = [5,75-42,64]), vegetables consumption 1 to 2 times in a week (OR = 10,63 avec IC 95% = [2,09-53,99]) and the non-consumption of dairy products in a week (OR = 8,52 avec IC 95% = [3,32-21,88]).

Conclusion: These results show that malnutrition is a health problem that remains present in schools in Benin and that it affects the academic performance of pupils. Actions to improve the food supply of the school feeding program and to extend it to all schools in rural districts as well as in urban districts are necessary.

Keywords: Pupils; Nutritional Status; School Performance; School Canteen

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Citation

Citation: Charles Patrick Makoutode., et al. “Comparative Study of Nutritional Status and Academic Performance in Schools with and without School Canteens in South-west Benin". Acta Scientific Paediatrics 5.4 (2022): 24-31.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2022 Charles Patrick Makoutode., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.