Table 3.
Factors associated with poor performance in the abstract reasoning (Raven's test) among the 740 primary schoolchildren in Tororo, Uganda
| Variables | n | Mean score 1–20 (SD) | Un-adjusted Mean difference between test performance | P value | Adjusted mean difference between test performance | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plasmodium infection status | ||||||
| Not infected | 517 | 8.5 (2.8) | ||||
| Infected | 223 | 7.5 (2.0) | −1.0 (−1.33, −0.67) | < 0.001 | −0.6 (−1.01, −0.21) | 0.001 |
| Sex | ||||||
| Male | 346 | 8.5 (3.1) | ||||
| Female | 394 | 7.9 (2.2) | −0.6 (−0.94, −0.21) | 0.002 | −0.2 (−0.61, 0.15) | 0.234 |
| Age group (years) | ||||||
| 6–10 | 448 | 7.4 (2.1) | ||||
| 11–14 | 292 | 9.4 (2.9) | 1.9 (1.59, 2.39) | < 0.001 | 2.4 (1.68, 3.10) | < 0.001 |
| WAZ (z-scores) | ||||||
| Not wasted | 635 | 8.23 (2.7) | ||||
| Wasted | 105 | 8.26 (2.4) | 0.03 (−0.45, 0.51) | 0.897 | 0.2 (−0.30, 0.61) | 0.613 |
| Bed-net use in last 24 hours | ||||||
| No | 478 | 8.3 (2.5) | ||||
| Yes | 262 | 8.1 (2.8) | −0.2 (−0.65, 0.23) | 0.347 | ||
| Helminth infection | ||||||
| None | 684 | 8.3 (2.7) | ||||
| Ascaris lumbricoides | 38 | 7.4 (2.1) | −0.9 (−1.66, −0.11) | 0.025 | −1.4 (−2.11, −0.74) | < 0.001 |
| Hookworm | 15 | 7.1 (2.0) | −1.2 (−2.18, −0.17) | 0.022 | −0.1 (−0.82, 0.64) | 0.810 |
| Trichuris trichiura | 3 | 8.0 (2.6) | −0.3 (−2.82, 2.19) | 0.809 | 1.6 (−3.04, 6.16) | 0.506 |
| Anemia | ||||||
| No | 420 | 8.3 (2.8) | ||||
| Yes | 320 | 8.1 (2.5) | −0.2 (−0.61, 0.13) | 0.203 | −0.01 (−0.44, 0.41) | 0.954 |
| Distance to HF | ||||||
| ≤ 500 m | 74 | 8.5 (2.6) | ||||
| > 500 m | 666 | 8.2 (2.6) | −0.3 (−0.93, 0.29) | 0.304 | ||
| Socioeconomic group | ||||||
| Poorest | 196 | 7.7 (2.3) | ||||
| Poor | 241 | 8.1 (2.5) | 0.4 (−0.02, 0.87) | 0.059 | 0.3 (−0.12, 0.69) | 0.162 |
| Less poor | 120 | 8.4 (2.8) | 0.7 (0.13, 1.31) | 0.017 | 0.7 (0.17, 1.25) | 0.010 |
| Least poor | 183 | 8.8 (3.1) | 1.1 (0.60, 1.65) | < 0.001 | 1.03 (0.51, 1.54) | < 0.001 |
| Maternal education | ||||||
| None | 71 | 8.3 (2.7) | ||||
| Primary | 622 | 8.2 (2.6) | −0.1 (−0.73, 0.44) | 0.623 | −0.2 (−0.83, 0.26) | 0.301 |
| Above primary | 47 | 8.7 (3.3) | 0.4 (−0.70, 1.47) | 0.487 | −0.1 (−1.14, 0.99) | 0.892 |
Univariate and multivariable mean differences in test scores with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Age confounded Plasmodium infection and helminth infection. Socioeconomic group confounded of weight for age z-score (WAZ) scores, helminth infection status and maternal education.
Interaction between age and sex, as well as sex and helminth infection.