Health and Nutrition Considerations in Education Planning. 1. Educational Consequences of Health Problems among School-Age Children

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Abstract
This paper utilizes recent findings to address, from the perspective of an educational planner, the question of how educational systems can intervene to improve the health and nutritional status of school-age children. Evidence is reviewed on the linkages between health conditions and three of the most important educational problems in developing countries-children who are unprepared to begin school at the usual age, the failure of many students to learn adequately in school, and the unequal participation in schooling by girls. It is clear that although less attention has been paid to the health and nutrition status of school-age children than to that of children of preschool age or of adults, existing data are adequate to identify several widespread problems among school-age children that have well established negative consequences for school participation and performance. These problems include chronic protein-energy malnutrition, iron-deficiency anaemia, iodine deficiency and intestinal helminth infection. It was also observed that a number of other infectious diseases, as well as disability, premature fertility, and substance abuse, are also likely to undermine the health and educational success of many school-age children.