Effects of Malnutrition on the Academic Performance: A Case Study of Grade 6-8 Learners in Rural Areas of Tehsil Hafizabad

Qamar-Uz-Zaman

  • Keywords:
  • Healthcare, Sociology, Social Sciences
  • Abstract:
  • The present research assesses the “effects of malnutrition on the academic performance of grade 6-8 learners in rural areas of tehsil Hafizabad”. Generally malnutrition is defined as the inadequacy or excess of the nutrients and considered the major issue in developing countries. Malnutrition badly affects all the zones of the child growth and development including health, physical growth and mental development as well as academic achievement. Studies described that malnutrition slows down cognitive skills and the process of behavioral development; causes growth retardation, diminished the capacity for a normal immune response; leads to more prone to disease; and raised morbidity and mortality; which in turn affects the academic performance and educational achievement of the children. To assess the effects of malnutrition on the academic performance of the learners is the main objective of the current study. To achieve the objective, the current study was designed as a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research approach. Two Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted separately from the teachers and the parents to collect the data. Quantitative data was gathered by using Interview Schedule from the sample of 150 learners of the three selected schools. Qualitative data (FGD) was analyzed through content analysis and Quantitative data was analyzed by using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The outcomes of the study revealed that the malnutrition and health related issues significantly affect the academic performance of the learners. The use of low quality foods (sumosa, snacks, cold drinks, burger etc.) lower the academic performance, promote tiredness and laziness during study, lowers the attainment level of the learners and lessen the attendance. Health issues i.e. diseases makes the learners lazy during study, slow down attainment level and lessen the attendance of the learners. Besides these factors income level of the household and demographical factor also had significant effects on the academic performance of the learners. Some useful suggestions were also proposed to overcome this issue i.e. government should provide lunch in the school, strictly ban by the government on the production and provision of low quality foods particularly in schools, government and other organizations as well as teachers should take initiatives to promote awareness among the general public at community level about the adverse affects of the malnutrition.
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Published
  • January 30, 2023
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  • Copyright (c) 2023  Qamar-Uz-Zaman
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.