Relationship Between Physical, Environmental and Sociodemographic Factors and School Performance in Primary Schoolchildren

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) 2005-02, Vol.51 (1), p.25-32
• Main Authors: Özmert, Elif N., Yurdakök, Kadriye, Soysal, Şebnem, Kulak-Kayıkçı, Maviş E., Belgin, Erol, Özmert, Emin, Laleli, Yahya, Saraçbaşi, Osman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Achievement; Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child Behavior - physiology; Confidence Intervals; Educational Measurement; Environment; Female; General aspects; Humans; Intelligence Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Physical Examination; Probability; Reference Values; Risk Factors; School Health Services; Socioeconomic Factors; Students; Turkey
• ISSN: 0142-6338; 1465-3664
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmh070

Poor primary school performance is a risk factor for low high-school and university graduation, as well as poverty in later life. In this case-control study, the relation between a variety of physical, environmental and sociodemographic factors, and primary school performance was investigated. Grade one students with good and poor school achievement, from different socioeconomic levels were studied. A questionnaire about the sociodemographic characteristics and child's medical history, together with a Child Behavior Checklist, was filled out by parents. Physical examination, visual and hearing screening were performed. Blood count and blood lead levels were determined. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) was performed to determine the IQ. A total of 177 students participated in the study. Stepwise logistic regression revealed an independent positive relation between duration of study (OR, 2.69; Cl, 1.19–6.05; p = 0.016), maternal education (OR, 1.47; Cl, 1.14–1.87; p = 0.002), full scale score of WISC-R (OR, 1.08; Cl, 1.03–1.3; p = 0.002) and school performance. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that the risk of having a below average full scale WISC-R score was higher among children having a hearing loss, uncorrected vision loss, heating house with stove, cigarette smoking of both parents, and low paternal education (less than 8 years). The chance of having an above average full scale WISC-R score was lower among children whose either parent smoked cigarettes, height-for-age percentile was below 10, and maternal education was less than 8 years. Policies for increasing male and female education, growth monitoring, appropriate feeding (breastfeeding and weaning), well-baby and child followup and clean environment (indoor and outdoor) will not only promote the physical health but also promote the cognitive development of the new generations.