ASSOCIATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS ON THE INTELLIGENCE LEVEL AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

KOUSHIK BHOWAL; DR. INDRANI MUKHERJEE; DR.DEBNATH CHAUDHURI

Volume : IV, Issue : V, May - 2015

ASSOCIATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS ON THE INTELLIGENCE LEVEL AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Koushik Bhowal, Dr. Indrani Mukherjee, Dr. Debnath Chaudhuri

Abstract :

Objective: To investigate the association between nutritional status with the academic performances and intelligence level. Design: A cross–sectional analytical study. Setting: Government schools of Shimulpur, Salka & Kumarhut, Ramnagar Village, in the districts 24 Parganas North & South, West Bengal, India. Subjects: 560 children aged 6 to 8 years (class II to IV). Results: 26.77%, 15.35% & 29.82% of them were underweight, stunted & wasted, respectively while 1.16% was overweight according to BMI. 3.22%, 21.42%, 24.28% & 50.71% of them achieved B, C, D, E intelligence grades, respectively. 24.81% of the students achieved academic grade of A & B while 32.5% of them got E & F grades. Academic achievement of the children has significant positive correlation (P≤ 0.01) with their intelligence level. Conclusions: Overall nutritional and academic status as well as IQ level of the children under study is far from desirable.