School feeding program has resulted in improved dietary diversity, nutritional status and class attendance of school children
Open Access
- 23 January 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Italian Journal of Pediatrics
- Vol. 44 (1), 16
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-018-0449-1
Abstract
School Feeding Program (SFP) is a targeted safety net program designed to provide educational and health benefits to vulnerable children. However, limited evidence exists regarding the effect of the intervention on the nutritional status and school attendance of children. The study is aimed at examining the effects of SFP on dietary diversity, nutritional status and class attendance of school children in Boricha district, Southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted based on a representative data collected from 290 students drawn from the district. A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on school children aged 10–14 years. Data were collected using structured pretested questionnaire. The effects of SFP on dietary diversity score (DDS), class attendance rate, body-mass-index for age (BAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) Z-scores were assessed using multivariable linear regression model. The finding showed significantly higher mean (±SD) of DDS in SFP beneficiaries (5.8 ± 1.1) than the non-beneficiaries (3.5 ± 0.7) (P < 0.001). BAZ and HAZ of the beneficiaries were also higher than their counterparts, which were (0.07 ± 0.93), (− 0.50 ± 0.86) and (− 1.45 ± 1.38), (− 2.17 ± 1.15) respectively (P < 0.001). The mean (±SD) days of absence from school for non-beneficiaries (2.6 ± 1.6) was significantly higher than that of the beneficiaries (1.3 ± 1.7) (P < 0.05). Given the positive effects of the program in improving the DDS, nutritional status, and class attendance of school children, we strongly recommend scaling up the program to other food insecure areas.Keywords
Funding Information
- International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Global Affairs Canada, Government of Canada
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Undernutrition and associated risk factors among school age children in Addis Ababa, EthiopiaBMC Public Health, 2015
- Determinants of underweight, stunting and wasting among schoolchildrenBMC Public Health, 2015
- Nutrition status and associated factors among children in public primary schools in Dagoretti, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Health Sciences, 2013
- Impact evaluation of school feeding programs in Lao PDRPublished by World Bank ,2011
- The Nutritional Status of School-Aged Children: Why Should We Care?Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 2010
- Educational And Health Impacts Of Two School Feeding Schemes: Evidence From A Randomized Trial In Rural Burkina FasoPublished by World Bank ,2009
- Rethinking School FeedingPublished by World Bank ,2009
- Food Supplements Have a Positive Impact on Weight Gain and the Addition of Animal Source Foods Increases Lean Body Mass of Kenyan SchoolchildrenJournal of Nutrition, 2003
- Class actionPublished by World Bank ,1996