scholarly journals Prevalence of Thinness and Stunting and Associated Factors among Adolescent School Girls in Adwa Town, North Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsgehana Gebregyorgis ◽  
Takele Tadesse ◽  
Azeb Atenafu

Introduction. Despite the fact that adolescence is a window of opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition, adolescents are the neglected age groups. Hence information regarding the nutritional status of adolescents is lacking making creating and implementing intervention programs difficult.Objective. To assess the prevalence of thinness, stunting, and associated factors among adolescent school girls in Adwa town, Northern Ethiopia.Methods. Data on 814 adolescent female students were collected from March to April 2015 using interviewer administered pretested semistructured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Data were entered using EPI INFO version 3.5.3 and analyzed using SPSS version 20 and WHO Anthroplus software.Results. The prevalence of thinness and stunting was 21.4% and 12.2%, respectively. Age of adolescent [AOR = 2.15 (1.14,4.03)], mother’s educational status [AOR = 2.34 (1.14,4.80)], eating less than 3 meals per day [AOR = 1.66 (1.12,2.46)], having family size >5 [AOR = 2.53 (1.66,3.86)] were significantly associated with thinness among the adolescent girls. Family size >5 [AOR = 2.05 (1.31,3.23)] and unimproved source of drinking water [AOR = 3.82 (2.20,6.62)] were significantly associated with stunting.Conclusion and Recommendation. Thinness and stunting are prevalent problems in the study area. Strategies to improve the nutritional status of girls should be given much attention.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0240677
Author(s):  
Yoseph Halala Handiso ◽  
Tefera Belachew ◽  
Cherinet Abuye ◽  
Abdulhalik Workicho ◽  
Kaleab Baye

Background Undernutrition is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among adolescent girls worldwide, especially in South-East Asia and Africa. Even though adolescence is a window of opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition, adolescent girls are a neglected group. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and associated factors among adolescent girls in the Wolaita and Hadiya zones of Southern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted, and a multistage random sampling method was used to select a sample of 843 adolescent girls. Anthropometric measurements were collected from all participants and entered in the WHO Anthro plus software for Z-score analysis. The data was analyzed using EPI-data 4.4.2 and SPSS version 21.0. The odds ratios for logistic regression along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were generated. A P-value < 0.05 was declared as the level of statistical significance. Result Thinness (27.5%) and stunting (8.8%) are found to be public health problems in the study area. Age [AOR(adjusted odds ratio) (95% CI) = 2.91 (2.03–4.173)], large family size [AOR (95% CI) = 1.63(1.105–2.396)], low monthly income [AOR (95% CI) = 2.54(1.66–3.87)], not taking deworming tablets [AOR (95% CI) = 1.56(1.11–21)], low educational status of the father [AOR (95% CI) = 2.45(1.02–5.86)], the source of food for the family only from market [AOR (95% CI) = 5.14(2.1–12.8)], not visited by health extension workers [AOR (95% CI) = 1.72(1.7–2.4)], and not washing hand with soap before eating and after using the toilet [AOR (95% CI) = 2.25(1.079–4.675)] were positively associated with poor nutritional status of adolescent girls in the Wolaita and Hadiya zones, Southern Ethiopia. Conclusion Thinness and stunting were found to be high in the study area. Age, family size, monthly household income, regularly skipping meals, fathers’ educational status, visits by health extension workers, and nutrition services decision-making are the main predictors of thinness. Hand washing practice, visits by health extension workers, and nutrition services decision-making are the main predictors of stunting among adolescent girls. Multisectoral community-based, adolescent health and nutrition programs should be implemented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebrehiwot Hadush ◽  
Oumer Seid ◽  
Abel Gebre Wuneh

Abstract Background A body of evidences showed that adolescent undernutrition is a serious public health problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. Adolescence period is the last chance for curbing the consequences of undernutrition and breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and poor health. Despite this fact, they have been considered as a low-risk group for poor health and nutrition problems than the young children or the very old. This study aimed to assess prevalence of nutritional status and associated factors among adolescent girls in Afar, Northeastern Ethiopia, 2017. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 736 adolescent girls from February15 to March 05, 2017 in Afar, Northeastern Ethiopia, 2017. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select study participants. A pretested and structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements was used to collect the data. The collected data were entered in to Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for further statistical analysis. Body Mass Index for age (thinness) and height for age (stunting) was used to assess undernutrition of adolescent girls by using the new 2007 WHO Growth Reference. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. The degree of association between dependent and independent variables were assessed using odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, and variables with p value < 0.05 were considered significant. Results The study revealed that the prevalence of thinness and stunting were 15.8% (95% CI 13.3–18.5%) and 26.6% (95% CI 23.5–29.9%), respectively. Being at an early adolescent age (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.23–6.81) for thinness and being at an early adolescent age (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.02–3.74), household food insecure (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.15–7.21), menstruation status (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.03–5.71), and availability of home latrine (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.15–4.42) for stunting were the independent predictors among the adolescent girls. Conclusions The prevalence of thinness and stunting is above the public health importance threshold level. Thus, Multi-sector-centered nutrition interventions to improve nutritional status of disadvantaged adolescent girls through providing comprehensive nutritional assessment and counseling services at community, school, and health facility levels, and creating household’s income-generating activities are recommended before they reach conception to break the intergenerational cycle effect of malnutrition.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chet Kant Bhusal

Background. Menstrual hygiene management has not been sufficiently addressed in developing countries. In many Nepalese societies, menstrual practices are still surrounded by sociocultural restrictions and taboos resulting in adverse health outcomes for adolescent girls. The purpose of this study was to determine menstrual hygiene practice and sociodemographic as well as socioeconomic factors associated with good menstrual hygiene practice amongst adolescent school girls in Dang district, Nepal. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dang district, Nepal, among 406 adolescent girls studying in grades 8, 9, and 10 between ages of 10 and 19 years from April to October 2019. Randomly 5 units were selected from a total of 10 local units. After 5 units had been decided, 10 schools consisting of 5 government and 5 private schools were selected through a disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. A further 406 students were then selected randomly from the 10 selected schools. Bivariate analysis was used primarily to assess the association between dependent and independent variables and final measure of association was odds ratio. Variables which were associated with bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify associated factors of menstrual hygiene practice. Results. The mean age and family size were 15.13 ± 1.19 and 5.58 ± 1.81, respectively. A total of 272 (67.0%) adolescents have good menstrual hygiene practice. Mothers and fathers with literature educational background (adjusted odds ratio = 0.52, confidence interval: 0.30–0.89 and AOR = 2.55, CI: 1.26–5.15, respectively), family size greater than or equal to 5 (AOR = 0.61, CI: 0.37–0.98), and living with relatives (AOR = 0.45, CI: 0.24–0.85) were significantly associated with good menstrual hygiene practice. Conclusions. Educational status of mother and father, family size, and living status were found to be independent associated factors of menstrual hygiene practice. In this context, this study demonstrates that administrators and policy makers should provide specific education regarding menstrual hygiene to both parents. Similarly local government needs to subsidize hygiene towels for school adolescents.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veerabhadrappa Bellundagi ◽  
K.B. Umesh ◽  
B.C. Ashwini ◽  
K.R. Hamsa

PurposeIndia is facing a double burden of malnutrition, i.e. undernutrition and obesity. Women and adolescent health and nutrition are very relevant issues which have not received much attention it deserves in India, especially in the context of a girl child. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess malnutrition among women and adolescent girls as well as the associated factors.Design/methodology/approachAn attempt was made to assess malnutrition among women and adolescent girls and associated factors. The required data was collected from the north (616) and south transects (659) sample households of Bangalore constituting a total sample size of 1,275. The data was analyzed by adopting multiple linear regression and multinomial logistic regression analysis using STATA software.FindingsThe effects of this study simply confirmed that, urbanization had an instantaneous effect on dietary repute of women and adolescent girls, while transferring throughout the gradient from rural to urban with the growing significance of weight problems and obese. In adolescent girls, about 31% were underweight followed by normal weight and overweight across rural–urban interface of Bangalore. The factors such as education, consumption of meat and animal products, a dummy for urban, diabetes and blood pressure were significantly and positively influencing the nutritional status (Body Mass Index) of women across rural–urban interface. While consumption of vegetables, wealth index and per capita income had a positive and significant influence on the nutritional status of adolescent girls.Originality/valueWith limited studies and data available in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Against this backdrop, the study was conducted to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among women and adolescents and its association with various socio-economic variables.


Author(s):  
Jyothi Veleshala ◽  
Varun M. Malhotra ◽  
Suresh J. Thomas ◽  
Kondagunta Nagaraj

Background: Reproductive health of adolescent girls is crucial as it determines the health of future generations. School girls when experiencing menarche find themselves in a setting without water, toilets or a supportive female teacher to explain the changes happening in their body. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess knowledge and practices about menstruation in adolescent school girls of an urban slum and to find some socio-demographic determinants of menstrual hygiene.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 6th to 10th class school going adolescent girls from an urban slum of Telangana state. A total of 300 girls participated.Results: The mean age of the students was 11.9±3.3 years. The mean age at menarche was 13.09 (95% CI: 12.07–14.11). 25.3% had acquired prior knowledge about attaining menarche. For majority (74.2%) the knowledge was imparted by their mothers. 96.9% of school girls used sanitary pads. Significant association observed between educational status and employment status of mother and usage of sanitary pads by respondent. Almost 90% of the young women faced physical complaints or health problems during menstruation. Majority (94.3%) had religious restrictions on them during the menstruation.Conclusions: Menstrual hygiene is an issue which needs to be addressed to all adolescents, with special emphasis in slum area. Lack of awareness is a roadblock in adopting safe and hygienic menstrual practices. More emphasis should be given on improving adolescent literacy for achieving hygienic menstrual practices.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Asmita Shrestha ◽  
Chet Kant Bhusal ◽  
Binjwala Shrestha ◽  
Kiran Dev Bhattarai

Background. Malnutrition is a major public health problem and most enveloping cause of morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents throughout the world. This study was aimed at assessing the nutritional status and associated factors among 6-10-year-old children in selected earthquake-affected areas of Gorkha district, Nepal. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study among 420 mothers having children of age groups 6-10 years (with anthropometric measurement among children) was conducted using a mixed method in selected earthquake-affected areas of Gorkha district, Nepal, from October 2015 to April 2016. Gorkha was selected purposively from 14 earthquake-affected districts. Two village development committees were selected randomly among 6 having severe impact. Randomly, 5 wards were selected from each of the 2 village development committees. As the sample was 420, 42 children were selected randomly from every ward. Result. Among the 420 children, 31.9% were underweight, 51.9% were stunted, and 2.9% were wasted after the earthquake. Children who were more prone to being underweight were the following: male children (RR=1.34 95% CI: 1.01-1.78) and children from illiterate mothers (RR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.85-3.36), illiterate fathers (RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.32-2.27), and homemaker mothers (RR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.20-0.38); children whose families were using nonimproved sources of water (RR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.07-6.60); and households having food insecurity (RR=12.97, 95% CI: 3.29-51.18). Similarly, children of illiterate fathers (RR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.41-1.97), children of illiterate mothers (RR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.91-2.83), children of homemaker mothers (RR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.70), children whose family were using treated water (RR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.67), and children from food insecure households (RR=10.52, CI: 4.05-27.33) were found to be stunted. After adjustment, children from households consuming nonimproved water were 6 times more likely (OR=6.75; 95% CI: 1.59-28.62) to be wasted. Conclusion. Illiterate mothers, illiterate fathers, mothers engaged in occupation other than household work, and food insecure households were found to be independent predictors of underweight and stunting. Nonimproved source of drinking water was found to be independent predictors of wasting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205031211984467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Getachew Arage ◽  
Mekonnen Assefa ◽  
Teshager Worku

Objective: This study was aimed at assessing socio-demographic and economic factors associated with nutritional status of adolescent school girls in Lay Guyint Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: The school-based cross-sectional study comprising 362 adolescent girls aged 10–19 years was included in the study. Simple random sampling technique with proportional allocation to size was used to select the participants. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurement were used to collect the data. An anthropometric measurement was converted to the indices of nutritional status using World Health Organization Anthro Plus software. Result: The overall prevalence of stunting and thinness among adolescent girls were 16.3% and 29%, respectively. Adolescents aged 14–15 years (AOR = 3.65; 95% confidence interval: 1.87, 7.11), adolescents living in rural areas (AOR = 1.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.24, 2.33), and adolescents who did not have snack (AOR = 11.39; 95% confidence interval: 1.47, 17.8) were positively associated with stunting. Whereas mother’s occupation was negatively associated with stunting (AOR = 0.12; 95% confidence interval: 0.17, 0.87). Similarly, being a rural resident (AOR = 2.40; 95% confidence interval: 1.13, 5.08) and adolescents aged 14–15 years (AOR = 6.05; 95% confidence interval: 2.15, 17.04) were positively associated with thinness. Educational status of adolescent girls was negatively associated with thinness (AOR = 0.13; 95% confidence interval: 0.05, 0.35). Conclusion: Stunting and thinness are prevalent among adolescent girls. The age of adolescents, place of residence, having a snack, and mother’s occupation was significantly associated with stunting and thinness. Having at least a one-time snack in addition to the usual diet is strongly recommended.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danjuma Shehu Uba ◽  
Md. Rabiul Islam ◽  
Md. Imdadul Haque ◽  
ABM Alauddin Chowdhury ◽  
Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam ◽  
...  

Background: Adolescence is the most critical period of human life when transitioning occurs from childhood to adulthood. Malnutrition is one of the major global health problems faced by many developing countries across the globe. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status of adolescent girls in a selected secondary school in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 adolescent girls who were available during the study period. A nutrition expert, together with an epidemiologist, gathered anthropometric information and measured the height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of the participants. The BMI was calculated, and the dietary habits of the participants were reported based on their usual food habits. It is part of our limitations and has been addressed under the limitations. Data were collected using a self-administered and semi-structured questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the adolescent girls was 15.9 ± 0.9 years, and more than half (53.2%) were students of senior secondary class 1 (SS-1). More than half (54.4%) of the adolescent girls had average body weight, 36.0% were underweight, and only 9.6% were overweight. The following socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with the BMI of adolescent girls: Age, class of the students, monthly family income, mothers’ educational status, and area of residence. Close to four-fifths (78.4%) of the participants consumed rice more than twice in a week; more than eight-tenths (88.8%) of the participants consumed milk/milk products at least ≤ 2 in a week. About 84.4% of the participants took red meat at least ≤ 2 in a week; more than half (55.2%) of the participants consumed vegetables and fruits more than twice a week. Most (84.8%) of the participants took lunch regularly, and 91.6% of the adolescent girls took breakfast regularly. Conclusions: The study revealed that nearly one-third of the adolescent girls were underweight, indicating a severe public health concern. Early nutritional screening and interventions are recommended to improve the nutritional status of the adolescent girl school in Nigeria.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henok Dagne Derso ◽  
Gashaw Agegnehu ◽  
Azeb Atenafu ◽  
Baye Dagnew ◽  

Background: Iron deficiency is the leading nutrient deficiency in the world affecting the lives of more than 2 billion people, accounting to over 30% of the world’s population. Pregnant women are particularly at high risk of iron and folic acid deficiency. Objective The aim of this study was to assess Adherence to Iron and folic acid supplement during pregnancy and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care. Methods Institution based cross-sectional study was employed from February 2016 to March 2017. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data was collected using a structured and pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify associated factors with Adherence to prenatal iron and folic acid supplement among pregnant women. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance. Those variables with a p-value less than 0.05 had been considered as significant. Result Adherence to Iron and folic acid was 28.7% with 95% C.I. (24.3, 33.6%). Educational status of mothers(AOR= 9.27 (95%CI: 2.47, 34.71), Educational status of husband (AOR= 0.31(95% CI: 0.11,0.88), Mothers who had a family size of four(AOR=3.70(1.08,12.76), Mothers who had family size of five and above (AOR= 4.88(95% CI: 1.20, 19.85),Mothers who had 2500-3500 birr household average monthly income (AOR= 0.46(95% CI: 0.24,0.89), Mothers who had registered at 17-24weeks with (AOR=0.40(95% CI: 0.22-0.74), registered at 25-28weeks (AOR=0.20(95% CI 0.10, 0.41), Mothers who had collected their iron and folic acid started at first visit at first month of pregnancy and duration of iron and folic acid is taken (AOR= 2.42(95% CI:1.05, 5.58) had significant association with iron and folic acid adherence. Conclusion and recommendation Adherence of Iron and folic acid was relatively low. Maternal and husband education status, family size, registration time, economic status and first visit in the first month with duration of iron and folic acid taken were factors significantly associated with adherence to iron and folic acid supplement. Educating pregnant mothers, improving economic status, early ANC registration can improve adherence to iron and folic acid supplement.


Author(s):  
Sreeshma Pavithran ◽  
D. D. Bant

Background: Adolescence is a period with rapid growth drive and demands higher nutrition. Improving Nutritional status of rural adolescent girls becomes the cornerstone of community’s nutritional status and target intervention for breaking intergeneration cycle of nutritional deficiencies. The objective of the study was to determine nutritional status and study the demographic factors affecting nutritional status of rural adolescent girls in Dharwad district.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 350 adolescent school girls studying in eight high schools in rural area of Dharwad district during July – September 2017. Demographic profile and dietary pattern was obtained. Anthropometric measurement and clinical examination was done. Statistical analysis was done using SSPS package.Results: Study found 14.9% of rural adolescent girls were under- weight for their age. Based on BMI, 25.2% of girls were under-nourished and 3.7% were over nourished. Significant relation with age, type of diet and age of menarche was found at p value <0.05.Conclusions: There is high prevalence of under nutrition among adolescent girls and is under nutrition is associated with micronutrient deficiencies like anaemia. There is need to create awareness to improve the nutritional needs of adolescent girls in rural areas.


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