4. Discussion
anaemia, wasting, stunting, mineral deficiencies
ANAEMIA, WASTING
Although previous studies indicate consistent positive effects of school feeding on energy intake, micronutrient status, school enrolment, and attendance, the impact of school feeding on growth, cognition and academic achievement of school-aged children receiving a meal at the school as part of an SFP compared with non-school-fed children, remain unknown [The nutritional status of the children at baseline was worse in the intervention schools (schools A and B), with higher levels of stunting and wasting among the children, compared with the control school (school C). This reflects the nature of the school catchment area, supported by AFPK and AFUK, which seeks to serve the most disadvantaged and marginalised families. Schools A and B have students belonging to Afghan refugee families, displaced people and low paid worker families, whereas school C is in an area where the surrounding population is more settled and living in the area for generations. The higher RCPM scores in the intervention schools at baseline compared with the control school (Micronutrient, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common in the northwest region of Pakistan [A further important observation from this trial is that there was no effect of either school feeding or school feeding + MNP groups on haemoglobin concentrations compared with the control. Though both haemoglobin levels and anaemia have been linked to cognitive performance [