TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose 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 10.5 ± 1.25 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 13.1 ± 4.57 µmol/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.
VL  - 50
IS  - 3
SN  - 0034-6659
DO  - 10.1108/NFS-01-2019-0035
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-01-2019-0035
AU  - Tandoh Marina Aferiba
AU  - Mills-Robertson Felix Charles
AU  - Wilson Michael David
AU  - Anderson Alex Kojo
PY  - 2019
Y1  - 2019/01/01
TI  - Nutritional and cognitive deficits of school-age children: A study in helminth-endemic fishing and farming communities in Ghana
T2  - Nutrition & Food Science
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 443
EP  - 462
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -