School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP): Alleviates Childhood Malnutrition Consequences

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Malnutrition is one of the many factors that affects children's performance in school. To address this specific problem, the Department of Education is implementing the School-Based feeding program or popularly known as SBFP. This program aimed to address short-term hunger, improve child nutrition, provide socialization opportunities for children, and enhance school performance. This research aims to showcase how SBFP helps in alleviating consequences of malnutrition among school-aged children.

METHODS

Using the SBFP terminal report, the researcher was able to identify the pupils involved in this study. A questionnaire was given to 12 SBFP beneficiaries of Banjo Laurel Elementary School, for the School Year 2018-2019. Included in the questionnaire is how SBFP helped them to improve their performance in school.

RESULTS

Based on the terminal report, 10 wasted pupils becomes normal, and the 2 severely wasted becomes wasted at the end of the program. Generally, this shows that 12 out of 12 beneficiaries improved their nutritional status at the end of the 120 days program. This data revealed that SBFP is a great help to these pupils.

DISCUSSIONS

The program, SBFP, helped increase pupils attendance in school. Being one of the beneficiaries of the program serves as motivation for a child to go to school every day. This leads to more time spent in school and more time spent towards learning. Eating the proper kind of food helps a child to get proper nutrition that leads tofirst, healthy body -that leads to better resistance to diseases, and secondly, sound mind which is essential in learning. Thus, better nutrition indirectly improves educational achievement by increasing school attendance by children.