Nutritional and cognitive deficits of school-age children: A study in helminth-endemic fishing and farming communities in Ghana

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dc.contributor.authorWilson, M.D.
dc.contributor.authorTandoh, M.A.
dc.contributor.authorMills-Robertson, F.C.
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, A.K.
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-11T15:40:57Z
dc.date.available2019-12-11T15:40:57Z
dc.date.issued2019-08-22
dc.descriptionResearch Articleen_US
dc.description.abstractPurpose – The purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between helminth infections, dietary parameters and cognitive performance, as well as the predictors of undernutrition among school-age children (SAC) living in helminth-endemic fishing and farming communities in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – This was a cross sectional study involving 164 (9 to 12 years old) SAC from fishing (n=84) and farming (n=80) communities of the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana, using structured questionnaires and anthropometric and biochemical assessments. Findings – Overall, 51.2% of the children were males, with no significant gender difference between the communities (p=0.88). Average age of the children was 10.561.25 years, with no significant difference between the farming and fishing communities (p=0.90). About 53.1% of all children were anemic, with no significant differences between farming versus fishing communities (p=0.87). Helminth-infected children were significantly anemic (p=0.03). Mean serum zinc level of all children was 13.164.57mmol/L, with zinc deficiency being significantly higher in children in the farming community (p<0.0001). About 7.5%of all the children were underweight, whilst 13.8% were stunted with a higher proportion of stunting occurring among older children (p=0.001) and girls (p=0.117). There was no significant difference in the Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices cognitive test scores between the two communities (p=0.79). Predictors of anemia were helminthiasis and pica behavior. Originality/value – These findings are relevant and have the prospect of guiding the development of intervention programs in addressing the persistent problem of nutritional and cognitive deficits among SAC.en_US
dc.identifier.other10.1108/NFS-01-2019-0035
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/34139
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherNutrition & Food Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries2019;
dc.subjectGhanaen_US
dc.subjectNutritionen_US
dc.subjectCognitive performanceen_US
dc.subjectKwahu Afram plainsen_US
dc.subjectFishingen_US
dc.subjectHelminthsen_US
dc.subjectFarmingen_US
dc.titleNutritional and cognitive deficits of school-age children: A study in helminth-endemic fishing and farming communities in Ghanaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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