Abstract:
Background: Breakfast is considered as the most important meal of the day. However, it was
identified as the mostly skipping meal of the day, especially among children. Regular breakfast
consumption helps to maintain benefit toward academic performances among school going
children.
Objective: To study breakfast skipping pattern and its effect on academic performances
among school children in Zonal Education Division, Galle
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 school children in
selected three grades (Grade 8, 9 & 10) in selected popular schools in Zonal Education
Division, Galle. The sample was selected using convenient sampling method. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect information on breakfast habits. Dietary
recall method was used to obtain information on the children’s food intake. Academic
performances were measured using average marks obtained for the term test. Data analysis
was done using statistical package of social science version 25. Level of significance was
considered as 0.05.
Results: Nearly half of the sample was boys (n = 145, 51.8%). Mean (±SD) age of the students
was 14.1(±0.7) years. Breakfast skipping was identified among 25% (n = 70) of students. Lack
of time (n = 45, 64.3%), lack of appetite (n = 19, 27.2%), less variety of foods (n = 2, 2.8%)
and unavailability of breakfast (n = 4, 5.7%) were identified as leading causes for breakfast
skipping. Majority (n = 45, 64.3%) of breakfast skippers was girls. Being a female (p <0.05)
and occupation of breadwinner (p <0.05) were associated with breakfast skipping. According
to this study, no significant association was identified with breakfast skipping and academic
performance of the children in Zonal Education Division-Galle (p = 0.51).
Conclusions: Breakfast skipping was identified in considerable proportion among school
children in the sample. Although, study did not identify significant association with breakfast
skipping and academic performance, study recommend the need of further studies with large
samples for detailed assessment on effects of breakfast skipping on academic performance.
