Consumption of Micronutrient rich Animal Source Foods and Cognitive Performance in Primary School Children in Hawassa Town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives: To assess consumption of animal source foods (ASF) and cognitive performance in Ethiopian primary school children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hawassa town, Southern Ethiopia among primary school children (n=116) aged 7-9 and enrolled in five schools. Participants were selected by two stage random sampling. Child dietary diversity was assessed using 8 food groups recommended by Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA). Child anthropometric status and family socioeconomic characteristics were also measured. The Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM board version) and selected tests from the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC-II) were used to assess cognitive performance. KABC-II scores were standardized for age before analysis. Results: Thirteen (13%) of the children were stunted, 5% were wasted and 13% were underweight. Mean (SD) weight-for- age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age Z-scores were -0.9 (0.9), -0.7 (1.1) and -0.6 (0.8), respectively. All participants consumed foods made from grains, roots and tubers. However, only 15% of children consumed ASF, which included meat, poultry, fish or eggs. The Mean diet diversity score was 3.8 (1.1). Wealth significantly predicted child diet diversity (P= 0.006, R2=0.12). Consumption of ASF predicted Sequential Scale (P= 0.05, Adj. R2=0.14) and Triangles (P= 0.022, R2=0.14) cognitive test scores. Height-for-age (P= 0.001), and maternal education (P= 0.002) accounted for 27% of variance in Pattern Reasoning test scores. Maternal education also predicted sequential scale (P=0.002) and triangles (P=0.0004) scores. Conclusions: Consumption of ASF was low in this group of school children and along with maternal education predicted performance on cognitive tests.