School breakfast benefits children's nutritional status

ABSTRACT

There are very few well-designed studies in developing countries to evaluate the benefits of school feeding programmes. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of giving breakfast on rural childrens' nutritional status, breakfast history and amount of money they brought to school. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of providing breakfast to rural primary school children in grade 2 to 5 in 16 schools in Jamaica. 407 undernourished children (weight for age,-ISD NCHS references and 407 adequtely nourished children (weight for age>-ISD) matched for age gender and class were randomly assigned to either breakfast or placebo groups for one school year. Breakfast consisted of bread or spiced bun with cheese and 250 ml flavoured milk which supplied 590-720 kcal and 22.5 g protein per day. The placebo was a small piece of orange. The children heights and weight were measured before and after the intervention. Differences between categorical variables were examined by Chi-squared tests and effects of giving breakfasts were tested by multiple regression analyses. The children receiving breakfast gained significantly more in weight and body mass index (p<.001) and height (p<0.05) than those in the placebo group. Participation in the programme did not reduce the amount of money brought to school, or change their home breakfasts, suggesting no significant income transfer to the families. We subsequently trained teaches to identify undernourished children who could benefit from a school meal using a calibrated measuring stick. (AU)