Abeer Musaddiq, Yusra Saleem, Muhammad Bilal Siddiqui, Shamoon Noushad, Sadaf Ahmed.
Prediction of cognitive and intellectual competence in kindergarten schools associated with general measures of health: a study on children with age ranges between 4 to 7 years.
Pak J Neurological Sci Jan ;15(1):19-25.

BACKGROUND Stunting refers to the low “height-for-age” measurement. Literature suggests that it is associated with delayed or diminished physical development, cognition and intellectual abilities. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the physical growth measures among children under 4 to 7 years of age and to determine its relationship with cognitive deficits & intellectual performances. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 300 students from different government and private schools under 4 to 7 years of age. The anthropometric measuements and cognitive and intellectual skills were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC-R) subtests Block Design and Digit Span (cognitive examination) respectively. Subsequently, Wide Range Assessment Test (WRAT-R) (Reading and spelling age) was used to check sensory-motor intelligence (intellectual examination). SPSS Version 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Out of the total, 36.5% were males, and 63.4% were females. The measurement of physical reliability was good, i.e. 48.93±3.12 (m) for mean head circumference, mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 48.93±3.12 kg/m2 and 17.07±2.12 for arm circumference. In a block design, 49.3% (n=148) children showed poorer cognitive functioning to focused on the task. In digit span, 77.3% (n=232) children showed forward digit span tasks, and many children were unable to repeat two items in reverse orders. Spelling test reflected the phonologically plausible misspellings among children. In Reading, 80.3% (mean=3.77) students showed a Mean distractions and 19.6% shown complete loss of concentrations. Overall, the quality of reading was not very good, as reflected by an increased number of distractions. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that stunting affects both the physical and mental health of the children as it significantly alters the cognitive and intellectual abilities together with delayed physical development. Only preventive measures (i.e. appropriate nutritional management) during the early childhood years can help in avoiding such deficiencies.

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