Abstract:
This study examined the effects of household food insecurity on school
absenteeism among Junior High School students in Ghana. Data for this
study were drawn fromthe 2012 Ghana Global School-based Health Survey.
A sample of 1,121 students aged 11–18 years were analyzed using binary
logistic regression with school absenteeism as the outcome variable. Of the
1,121 students examined, more than half (58.1%) were from food insecure
households and 39.8% missed school without permission during the past
30 days. Adjustng for multiple predictors, students from food insecure
households had 1.56 times higher odds of missing school without permission
relative to those from food secure households. Other predictors of
school absenteeism include being a victim of bullying, being involved in
fighting in school, feeling lonely, history of suicidal ideation, alcohol use,
and illicit substance use. Parental support had a protective effect on school
absenteeism such that, for each additional increase in parental support
score, the odds of school absenteeism were predicted to decrease by 4%.
Addressing both distal and structural drivers of food insecurity is critical in
reducing school absenteeism and improving student enrollment and school
attendance.
