title: Prevalence of Malnutrition and Relationship with Scholastic Performance among Primary and Secondary School Children in Two Select Private Schools in Bangalore Rural District (India).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition is a serious problem among children in developing countries. In India; a school meal program is in place to combat malnutrition, but only in government schools. This study is an attempt to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in primary and secondary school children in private schools and to also assess the relationship between malnutrition and academic performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 582 students from class 1-7 from two select schools in rural Bangalore, India were included in the study. Information on age of study subjects were collected from school records. Height and weight measurements were taken. BMI was calculated. Children were clinically examined for pallor. Data on height, weight and BMI was transformed into WHO 2007 Z scores and then was categorized as < -3 SD, -2 to -3 SD, > -2 SD, > 2 SD. Mathematics and English scores of the previous two class tests were taken, average scores were calculated. Statistical tests used were Chi square test, Odd's ratio, Chi square for trend.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 582 students participated in this study. Males were 54% (315) and females were 46% (267). One hundred and fifty-nine (27%) of the children had pallor, 81 (20%) had under nutrition, 38 (7%) had stunting, 197 (34%) had thinness and 5 (1%) were found to be obese. Positive relationship was found between weight for ageZscores and English as well as Maths; Height for age Z scores with English.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hence we conclude that the prevalence of malnutrition is high among children in private schools also; and the nutritional status of the children is strongly associated with their academic performance.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Rashmi
authors: Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Shweta
authors: Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Farah Naaz
authors: FN
authors: Fathima
authors: Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Twinkle
authors: T
authors: Agrawal
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Moulik
authors: M
authors: Shah
authors: Department of Community Health, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Randell
authors: R
authors: Sequeira
keywords: Malnutrition; scholastic performance; school meal