Factors affecting School Absenteeism and its Effect on Scholastic Performance

Abstract

Introduction: School absenteeism is an important issue, which affects educational achievement and also results in false estimation of the prevalence of disease in school programs. This study was carried out to estimate the magnitude and its causes and their relation to school absenteeism. Objectives: To study the medical and social factors affecting school absenteeism and to know the effect of school absenteeism on scholastic performance. Method: It is a cross sectional study done in randomly selected children between five and fifteen years of age. The study sample included 754 children. Socio-demographic profile and pre-designed questionnaires as well as school records were obtained. The marks cards of the entire year were taken to assess the scholastic performance. Significant absenteeism was taken when absenteeism was more than 15 percent. Results: The incidence of school absenteeism was 3.12 percent. Increased incidence was found in children aged 11 to 14 years. Incidence of absenteeism was more in males, children with higher birth order and larger family size, lower education status of the parents and in Hindu religion. Majority of the school children were anemic. Illness was the most important cause of school absenteeism. Poor academic performance is significantly correlated with increased absenteeism. Conclusion: Illness constituted the major reason of absenteeism. School absenteeism had positive correlation with academic performance of the students.