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