From Malnutrition to Brain Mastery: BENCI – Unlocking Potential for Educational Equity
By Rachel Maina, PhD, Tilburg University
Who knew that fighting malnutrition could involve iPads and brain games? Well, malnutrition is not just about food. It can also affect a child’s ability to perform in school. Knowledge of how to assess is equally as important as finding the right tool for evaluating this ability. As part of Rachel Maina’s continuing efforts to highlight gaps in mental health integration within resource-poor settings, she adapted and validated a culturally sensitive and psychometrically sound iPad based neurocognitive tool, BENCI, to be used among Kenyan children living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and stunting. BENCI (Battery for Neuropsychological Evaluation of Children) measures executive functions, memory, attention, processing speed, language, and visual-motor abilities. Its development involved integrating culturally relevant test items and conducting rigorous evaluations to ensure cross-group comparisons using measurement invariance analysis and confirm the underlying performance structure using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Integrating culturally relevant test items ensures that the tool accurately measures cognitive abilities within the specific cultural context. Measurement invariance then ensures that the tool's measurements are consistent across distinct groups, allowing for accurate comparisons between individuals. The tool's strength was also confirmed by checking if the results were consistent when the test was repeated - test-retest reliability, if the different parts of the test were measuring the same thing – internal consistency, and if the results matched with what was expected - convergent validity. Rachel’s work did not stop here. She also evaluated the mediation effects of stunting, shedding light on other factors related to cognitive impairment. This comprehensive approach allows researchers to identify additional correlates and develop targeted interventions. The ultimate goal is to support cognitive interventions that empower children living with HIV and stunting with the same learning capacity as their counterparts without these vulnerabilities. By utilizing the research findings from BENCI, educational equity can become a reality. What makes BENCI even more remarkable is its accessibility. It is a computerized tool available for free, ensuring that children from low-resource settings can benefit from its cognition profiling capabilities. This removes economic obstacles to equal opportunities for all children. Reach out today to learn more about BENCI and join us in unlocking the full potential of every child, regardless of their circumstances. We need an integrated approach to combat malnutrition and promote educational equity. By promoting accessibility and striving for educational equity, BENCI offers a promising solution to unlocking the potential of children in resource-poor settings. Together, let us bridge the gap and create education equity for all!
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