International Journal of Pediatric Nursing

CORRELATION BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND MEMORY AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

S. Sreelakshmi*, R.K.Muniswamy

sree154@gmail.com

BMI, School, Memory, Cognition, ,Undernourished, Overweight.

The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between nutritional status and memory among the school children and to find the association between the study variables and selected socio-demographic variables. A descriptive survey approach with correlational descriptive survey design was used for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 50 school children. Height and weight of each child was monitored to calculate BMI and thereby to assess the nutritional status. Level of memory of each child was assessed through interview schedule by using Modified NIMHANS Tests of memory for children. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Out of the sample, 30% were undernourished, 48% were normally nourished, 20% had overweight and 2% were obese. According to the level of memory majority of subjects 56% had average memory, whereas 20% had below average memory and 24% had above average memory. The study findings revealed that there was a weak positive correlation that exists between nutritional status and memory [r= 0.281, p< 0.05]. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between BMI scores of overweight children and their memory. [r=-0.732, p< 0.05]. Significant association was found between nutritional status of children and education of mother [χ2 = 28.86, p< 0.05]. Hence, study concludes that majority of school children are having normal nutritional status and average memory; and that there is a weak positive correlation between nutritional status and memory. A negative correlation was found between BMI scores of overweight children and their memory scores, which highlights that, in case of overweight children, as BMI increases memory decreases.