Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School: Studies in two African countries

S. Brooker; A. Hall; D. A.P. Bundy; S. Adjei; E. Allen; E. Amuah; E. Asibey-Berko; S. T. Wen; N. N.N. Noswah-Nuamah; A. Ollennu; C. M. Kihamia; W. Issae; L. Mwanri; J. Magingo; A. Mwaikemwa; S. Kimaro; E. Yona; S. Tatala

doi:10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7

Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School: Studies in two African countries

S. Brooker, A. Hall, D. A.P. Bundy, S. Adjei, E. Allen, E. Amuah, E. Asibey-Berko, S. T. Wen, N. N.N. Noswah-Nuamah, A. Ollennu, C. M. Kihamia, W. Issae, L. Mwanri, J. Magingo, A. Mwaikemwa, S. Kimaro, E. Yona, S. Tatala

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study compares age at enrolment in Primary School with a range of nutritional measures for 8-9 year old and 12-13 year old children in Ghana (n = 1566) and Tanzania (n = 1390). The results show that short stature (height- for-age z-score), but not other nutritional variables (weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores and haemoglobin concentration), is strongly associated with late enrolment. This relationship holds for both age group, sexes and countries, and is independent of socio-economic status in Tanzania (where this parameter was assessed). The relationship between stature and age-appropriate grade becomes less marked with progression through school, which is compatible with a higher drop out rate for more stunted children. These results suggest an important role for health in education; that stunted children enrol later in school and are more likely to drop out earlier.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	675-682
Number of pages	8
Journal	Social Science and Medicine
Volume	48
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7
Publication status	Published - Mar 1999
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Ghana
Late enrolment
Schoolchildren
Stunting
Tanzania

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10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7

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Brooker, S., Hall, A., Bundy, D. A. P., Adjei, S., Allen, E., Amuah, E., Asibey-Berko, E., Wen, S. T., Noswah-Nuamah, N. N. N., Ollennu, A., Kihamia, C. M., Issae, W., Mwanri, L., Magingo, J., Mwaikemwa, A., Kimaro, S., Yona, E., & Tatala, S. (1999). Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School: Studies in two African countries. Social Science and Medicine, 48(5), 675-682. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7

@article{1722a91f20b74da985c78f51f88039df,

title = "Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School: Studies in two African countries",

abstract = "This study compares age at enrolment in Primary School with a range of nutritional measures for 8-9 year old and 12-13 year old children in Ghana (n = 1566) and Tanzania (n = 1390). The results show that short stature (height- for-age z-score), but not other nutritional variables (weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores and haemoglobin concentration), is strongly associated with late enrolment. This relationship holds for both age group, sexes and countries, and is independent of socio-economic status in Tanzania (where this parameter was assessed). The relationship between stature and age-appropriate grade becomes less marked with progression through school, which is compatible with a higher drop out rate for more stunted children. These results suggest an important role for health in education; that stunted children enrol later in school and are more likely to drop out earlier.",

keywords = "Ghana, Late enrolment, Schoolchildren, Stunting, Tanzania",

author = "S. Brooker and A. Hall and Bundy, {D. A.P.} and S. Adjei and E. Allen and E. Amuah and E. Asibey-Berko and Wen, {S. T.} and Noswah-Nuamah, {N. N.N.} and A. Ollennu and Kihamia, {C. M.} and W. Issae and L. Mwanri and J. Magingo and A. Mwaikemwa and S. Kimaro and E. Yona and S. Tatala",

note = "Funding Information: The programmes and activities of the Partnership for Child Development are supported by the UNDP, the Rockefeller Foundation, the WHO, the British Department for International Development, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the James S. McDonnell Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. The Ghana and Tanzania PCD Programmes are supported by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. ",

year = "1999",

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doi = "10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7",

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Brooker, S, Hall, A, Bundy, DAP, Adjei, S, Allen, E, Amuah, E, Asibey-Berko, E, Wen, ST, Noswah-Nuamah, NNN, Ollennu, A, Kihamia, CM, Issae, W, Mwanri, L, Magingo, J, Mwaikemwa, A, Kimaro, S, Yona, E & Tatala, S 1999, 'Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School: Studies in two African countries', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 675-682. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School

T2 - Studies in two African countries

AU - Brooker, S.

AU - Hall, A.

AU - Bundy, D. A.P.

AU - Adjei, S.

AU - Allen, E.

AU - Amuah, E.

AU - Asibey-Berko, E.

AU - Wen, S. T.

AU - Noswah-Nuamah, N. N.N.

AU - Ollennu, A.

AU - Kihamia, C. M.

AU - Issae, W.

AU - Mwanri, L.

AU - Magingo, J.

AU - Mwaikemwa, A.

AU - Kimaro, S.

AU - Yona, E.

AU - Tatala, S.

N1 - Funding Information: The programmes and activities of the Partnership for Child Development are supported by the UNDP, the Rockefeller Foundation, the WHO, the British Department for International Development, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, the James S. McDonnell Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. The Ghana and Tanzania PCD Programmes are supported by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.

PY - 1999/3

Y1 - 1999/3

N2 - This study compares age at enrolment in Primary School with a range of nutritional measures for 8-9 year old and 12-13 year old children in Ghana (n = 1566) and Tanzania (n = 1390). The results show that short stature (height- for-age z-score), but not other nutritional variables (weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores and haemoglobin concentration), is strongly associated with late enrolment. This relationship holds for both age group, sexes and countries, and is independent of socio-economic status in Tanzania (where this parameter was assessed). The relationship between stature and age-appropriate grade becomes less marked with progression through school, which is compatible with a higher drop out rate for more stunted children. These results suggest an important role for health in education; that stunted children enrol later in school and are more likely to drop out earlier.

AB - This study compares age at enrolment in Primary School with a range of nutritional measures for 8-9 year old and 12-13 year old children in Ghana (n = 1566) and Tanzania (n = 1390). The results show that short stature (height- for-age z-score), but not other nutritional variables (weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores and haemoglobin concentration), is strongly associated with late enrolment. This relationship holds for both age group, sexes and countries, and is independent of socio-economic status in Tanzania (where this parameter was assessed). The relationship between stature and age-appropriate grade becomes less marked with progression through school, which is compatible with a higher drop out rate for more stunted children. These results suggest an important role for health in education; that stunted children enrol later in school and are more likely to drop out earlier.

KW - Ghana

KW - Late enrolment

KW - Schoolchildren

KW - Stunting

KW - Tanzania

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U2 - 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7

DO - 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00382-7

M3 - Article

C2 - 10080367

AN - SCOPUS:0032929736

VL - 48

SP - 675

EP - 682

JO - Social Science and Medicine

JF - Social Science and Medicine

SN - 0277-9536

IS - 5

ER -

Short stature and the age of enrolment in Primary School: Studies in two African countries

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Keywords

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