Dataset Information

Impact of school meals on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study evaluated the impact of the Addis Ababa School Feeding Program (SFP) on educational outcomes.

Design

Single-group repeated measurement/longitudinal study design and multistage stratified sampling design were followed. Effect sizes estimates, repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square, Generalised Additive Mixed Model and mixed effects negative binomial regression were used. Academic scores, attendance and dropout and height and weight of schoolchildren were collected.

Setting

School Feeding Programs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Participants

Schoolchildren in primary schools and school directors and teachers in fifteen randomly selected schools for Key Informant Interview (KII).

Results

Anthropometric measurements of 4500 schoolchildren were taken from 50 schools. Academic scores of 3924 schoolchildren from 46 schools, class attendance records of 1584 schoolchildren from 18 schools and annual enrolment records of 50 schools were gathered. School meals achieved a minimum to large scale effects on educational outcomes with effect sizes (η²) of academic scores (boys = 0·023, girls = 0·04), enrolment (girls = 0·001, boys = 0·05) and attendance (Cramer's V = 0·2). The average scores of girls were significantly higher than that of boys (P < 0·0001). Height-for-age in all schoolchildren (P < 0·01) and BMI-for-age Z-scores in adolescent girls of 15-19 years (P < 0·0001) never had a significant positive relationship with average scores. Significant relation was observed between nutritional status and attendance (P = 0·021). KII showed that SFP created convenient teaching-learning environment and reduced hunger in schools, while boosting enrolment, attendance and academic performance among the schoolchildren.

Conclusion

The Addis Ababa SFP has positively contributed to educational outcomes. Strengthening the program would enhance nutritional outcomes and diminish educational inequalities.

SUBMITTER: Destaw Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9991771 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Impact of school meals on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Destaw Zelalem Z Wencheko Eshetu E Kidane Samuel S Endale Mulugeta M Challa Yohannes Y Tiruneh Melkamu M Tamrat Meti M Samson Hanna H Shaleka Dilu D Ashenafi Mogessie M

Public health nutrition 20220328 9

<h4>Objective</h4>This study evaluated the impact of the Addis Ababa School Feeding Program (SFP) on educational outcomes.<h4>Design</h4>Single-group repeated measurement/longitudinal study design and multistage stratified sampling design were followed. Effect sizes estimates, repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square, Generalised Additive Mixed Model and mixed effects negative binomial regression were used. Academic scores, attendance and dropout and height and weight of schoolchildren were collected ...[more]

PMID: 35343425

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Project description:BackgroundRubella is a vaccine-preventable contagious disease causing an estimated 100,000 children to be born with congenital rubella syndrome each year globally. Studies documented that 18 rubella outbreaks were occurred each year in Ethiopia. Yeka sub-city woreda 13 public health emergency management office reported two measles suspected cases on 8 February, 2018. We investigated this outbreak to identify its etiology, describe the outbreak and implement control measures.MethodsWe described the outbreak using descriptive epidemiology. The study population was defined as students learning in the school where the outbreak occurred. Suspected rubella case was defined as student with generalized rash whereas confirmed case was suspected case tested positive for rubella IgM. Questionnaires, checklists and students record review were used to collect data. We searched for new cases in classes daily and excluded them from classes. The school environment was assessed and the outbreak was described in person and time.ResultsWe identified 58 cases (median age: 4.6 years; IQR: 4-5 years) with six of them rubella IgM positive and 52 epidemiologically linked. The outbreak began on 8 February 2018 having multiple intermittent peaks during its course reaching its highest peak at 2 April, 2018 and ended on 20 April, 2018. Index cases were reported from two classes; however, cases were occurred in 13/15(86.67%) of the classes during the entire outbreak. Fifty five percent (32/58) and 45/58(77.59%) of the cases were females and 3-5 years children, respectively. Overall attack rate was 58/531(4.05%). Attack rate was higher in females 32/252 (12.7%) than in males 26/279 (9.32%), and higher 45/275(16.36%) in 3-5 years than those in 5-8 years 13/256(5.08%) children. Case fatality ratio was zero. All cases were vaccinated against measles but unvaccinated against rubella.ConclusionsAttack rate was higher in females than in males and higher in 3-5 years than 5-8 years children. We recommended establishing rubella surveillance system, conducting sero-prevalence of rubella among child bearing age females and establishing CRS surveillance among young infants to provide evidence-based information for RCV introduction. It was also recommended to develop a national rubella surveillance guideline which aid to exclude rubella cases from schools during outbreak.

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Dataset Information

Impact of school meals on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Impact of school meals on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Similar Datasets

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