Authors: Özmert, Elif N.¹; Yurdakök, Kadriye¹; Soysal, Şebnem²; Kulak-Kayıkçı, Maviş E.³; Belgin, Erol³; Özmert, Emin⁴; Laleli, Yahya⁵; Saraçbaşi, Osman⁶

Source: Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Volume 51, Number 1, February 2005 , pp. 25-32(8)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

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.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmh070

Affiliations: 1: Department of Social Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 2: Department of Pediatrics, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 3: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 4: Department of Opthalmology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, 5: Düzen Laboratories, Ankara, Turkey, 6: Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Publication date: 2005-02-01

More about this publication?

• The Journal of Tropical Pediatrics provides a link between theory and practice in the field. Papers report key results of clinical and community research, and considerations of programme development. More general descriptive pieces are included when they have application to work preceeding elsewhere. The journal also presents review articles, book reviews and, occasionally, short monographs and selections of important papers delivered at relevant conferences.

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• In this Subject: Internal Medicine ,  Pediatrics
• By this author: Özmert, Elif N. ;  Yurdakök, Kadriye ;  Soysal, Şebnem ;  Kulak-Kayıkçı, Maviş E. ;  Belgin, Erol ;  Özmert, Emin ;  Laleli, Yahya ;  Saraçbaşi, Osman

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