Influence Of Missing Breakfast On Cognitive Functions Among Pre-Adolescent Primary School Children In Kisumu Central Sub-County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Breakfast is an important meal of a day, especially to children and pre-adolescents. However,

pre-adolescents seem to have the highest prevalence of missing breakfast (MB) despite its

importance to their cognitive performance, growth and development. Furthermore, sociodemographic

characteristics have been shown to impart on breakfast missing among children.

There is a paucity of literature in Africa regarding the influence of missing breakfast on the

cognitive functions of the children particularly in Kenya. The breakfast missing pattern and

how socio-demographic characteristics influence cognitive functions among pre-adolescents

are not well understood. Kisumu Central Sub-county was purposively picked for the study

because it is an urban set-up: a factor that makes most households be able to afford at least

three meals per day. This study thus examined the influence of missing breakfast and sociodemographic

characteristics on cognitive functions among pre-adolescent primary school

children in Kisumu Central Sub-County. Specifically, this research aimed to assess the

missing breakfast pattern, determine the influence of breakfast missing and sociodemographic

characteristics on cognitive functions of pre-adolescent primary school children

in study area. A cross-sectional study design was adopted where pre-adolescents were

recruited for this study. Two-stage cluster sampling technique was adopted for the selection

of the sample 422 pre-adolescents from the targeted population of 14,473 pre-adolescents of

school going children. Data was collected using a consolidated questionnaire comprising

information for demographic and socio-economic, missing breakfast pattern and cognitive

function tests. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics to determine the breakfast

missing pattern whereas logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of

breakfast missing and socio-demographic characteristics on cognitive functions. There was

no significant association between missing breakfast and student’s attention (p=0.376).

Missing breakfast (Adjusted OR 0.31, p = 0.02) and reasons for missing breakfast (Adjusted

OR 5.2, p=0.03) predicted cognitive functions. Economic reasons of MB (Adjusted OR 2.24,

p=0.04) predicted logic reasoning. Family income predicted (Adjusted OR 4.99, p=0.016)

attention. This study enumerated insight which may allow for appropriate interventions

programs to be designed aimed at enhancing cognitive functions of pre-adolescents by

influencing their breakfast consumption habits and their socio-demographic characteristics.