Nutritional status and academic performance among primary school children in cajamarca, Peru: A correlational study
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Abstract
Childhood nutrition is a key factor in cognitive development and academic performance; however, its relationship with academic achievement is not always conclusive. The objective of this study was to determine the association between nutritional status and academic performance among primary school students from a public educational institution in Cajamarca, Peru. A quantitative, non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted in a census population of 400 students aged 6 to 13 years. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index-for-age and height-for-age according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, while academic performance was determined based on the final school promotion status. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used, with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed a predominance of normal nutritional status and that 89.0% of the students were promoted. No significant association was found between height-for-age and academic performance (p = 0.666), nor between BMI-for-age and academic performance (p = 0.133). It is concluded that nutritional status is not significantly associated with academic performance, suggesting the influence of social, family, and educational factors on learning
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