Effect Of Breakfast Intervention On Cognitive Function, School Performance, And Absenteeism In Basic School Students In Sudan

Abstract

Background: Breakfast is widely recognized as the most important meal of the day, particularly for school-aged children, as it supports optimal brain function and academic success. In low-resource settings such as Sudan, breakfast skipping is prevalent due to economic constraints, leading to adverse effects on students’ cognitive development, school attendance, and academic outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured school breakfast program, using Adzuki beans as a nutritious and locally available food, on the cognitive performance, academic achievement, and attendance of primary school students in Khartoum State.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was applied to a sample of 294 students aged 6 to 14 years. The intervention involved providing a daily breakfast based on Adzuki beans over an eight-month period. Baseline and post-intervention data were collected on absenteeism rates, academic grades, and cognitive test scores. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the significance of observed changes.

Results: Following the intervention, there was a dramatic reduction in absenteeism, with mean days absent falling from 10.05 to 1.05 (p<0.001). Academic performance showed substantial improvement: students receiving weak or failing grades decreased from 69.4% to 32.3%, while those achieving good or excellent grades increased from 30.6% to 67.7%. Cognitive assessments also reflected marked gains, with the proportion of students scoring average or above rising from 34.7% to 75.2%.

Conclusion:The structured breakfast program demonstrated a significant positive impact on students’ educational and cognitive outcomes. These findings underscore the crucial importance of school feeding initiatives, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions, and support their expansion as a public health and educational strategy in Sudan.