ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICES AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN SAGAMU, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examined the anthropometric status and cognitive performance of school-age children in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey with multistage sampling approaches was carried out on 250 school children, to gather data on their socio-demographic characteristics. The World Health Organization's Anthro Plus software was used to calculate body mass index for age, height for age, and nutritional status using the anthropometric assessment approach. Additionally, the respondent's academic performance was evaluated through the use of a cognitive questionnaire, which included questions about drawing the human figure, thinking patterns, numerical recall, and sentence structure. Results showed that the respondents' mean weight, height, age, and gender did not differ significantly. The nutritional state of the respondent showed that, while 65.2% had a normal BMI-for-age, (28.4%), (5.6%), and (0.8%) were mildly, moderately, and severely thin respectively. Of the respondents, a majority had a normal nutritional status, 36, 11.2, and 1.2% were mildly, moderately, and severely stunted. In addition, nearly all the respondents performed well academically in terms of number recall; around 90% are very excellent at pattern reasoning. In conclusion, anthropometric indices were found to be significantly correlated with students' cognitive ability.