Hedwig Acham|Joyce K. Kikafunda|Marian Kjellevold|Wilna Oldewage?Theron|Abdulkadir Egal
Breakfast, midday meals and academic achievement in rural primary schools in Uganda: implications for education and school health policy
Makerere University
underachievement schools global problem especially prevalent developing countries indicators educational performance show uganda done remarkably well education accessrelated targets since introduction universal primary education 1997 however educational outcomes remain disappointing absence school feeding schemes one leading causes scholastic underachievement given attention ugandan authorities instead national policy parents expected provide meals even though many especially rural areas cannot afford provide even minimal daily bowl maize porridgeto assess demonstrate effect breakfast midday meal consumption academic achievement schoolchildrenwe assessed household characteristics feeding patterns academic achievement 645 schoolchildren aged 915 years kumi district eastern uganda 20062007 using modified cluster sampling design involved grade 1 schools 34 total pupils grade four household questionnaires school records used collect information sociodemographic factors feeding patterns school attendance academic achievement assessed using unstandardized techniques specifically designed studyunderachievement proportion score 1200 points high 684 addition significantly higher achievement better feeding patterns observed among children less poor households p005 achievement significantly associated consumption breakfast midday meal particularly boys p005 greater likelihood scoring well observed better nourished children values10we observed underachievement relatively high inadequate patterns meal consumption particularly poor significantly higher scores among children less poor households significant association academic achievement breakfast midday meal consumption