Research Article
The Magnitude of Hidden Hunger and Cognitive Deficits among Children Living in Orphanages in Kumasi, Ghana
Table 1
Characteristics of participants.
| Variable | Frequency (n) | Percentage |
| Age (years) | 6–8 | 37 | 28.5 | 9–13 | 93 | 71.5 | Median (IQR) | 10.50 (8.00–13.00) | |
| Gender | Boy | 66 | 50.8 | Girl | 64 | 49.2 |
| Orphanage stay (years) | 1–6 | 75 | 57.7 | 7+ | 55 | 42.3 |
| Challenges | Financial | 15 | 11.5 | Inadequate food | 6 | 4.6 | Other | 7 | 5.4 | None | 102 | 78.5 |
| Desired livelihood changes | Nothing | 86 | 66.2 | Adequate food/clothing | 2 | 1.5 | Financial support | 9 | 6.9 | Dormitory/washroom completion | 5 | 3.8 | Education/play materials | 23 | 17.7 | Leave orphanage | 5 | 3.8 |
| Education | Primary | 95 | 73.1 | Junior high school | 35 | 26.9 |
| Ethnicity | Akan | 116 | 89.2 | Others | 14 | 10.8 |
| Religion | Christian | 127 | 97.7 | Muslim | 3 | 2.3 |
| BMI for age | Severe thinness/thinness | 3 | 2.3 | Normal | 114 | 87.7 | Overweight/Obese | 13 | 10.0 |
| Height for age | Severely stunted/stunted | 16 | 12.3 | Normal | 113 | 86.9 | Maybe abnormal | 1 | 0.8 |
| Iodine status | Mild deficiency | 21 | 16.2 | Adequate | 109 | 83.8 |
| Cognition status | Poor | 22 | 16.9 | Good | 44 | 33.8 | Excellent | 64 | 49.2 |
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