Tafasa Segni Mulugeta, Tura Meseret Robi, Mulu Ermiyas, Begna Zenebu
Department of Public Health, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ambo University, P. O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
BMC Nutr. 2022 Aug 24;8(1):87. doi: 10.1186/s40795-022-00587-8.
Adolescent is the population whose age between 10-19 years old. They are undergoing rapid growth, development and are one of the nutritionally at-risk groups who should need attention. Adolescent undernutrition is a worldwide problem. Even if this stage brings the second window of opportunity to break the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition little is known specifically in the study area. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among school adolescent girls in Abuna Gindeberet district, Central Ethiopia, 2021.
Institution-based cross-sectional quantitative study design was conducted in Abuna Gindeberet district among 10-19 years adolescent girls attending primary and secondary schools from January 1-30, 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 587 adolescent girls. Data were collected by using interviewer-administered structured and anthropometric measurements. Data were coded, then entered into the Epi-info version 7.2.2.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 and WHO Anthro plus for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify predictors of under nutrition. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05.
The overall magnitude of stunting and thinness were 15.4% [95% CI (12-18)] and 14.2% [95% CI (11-17)] respectively. Number of meals per day [AOR = 3.62, 95% C.I (2.16, 6.05)], adolescent girls of lower grades [AOR = 2.08, 95% C.I (1.07, 4.04)] and who did not begin menstruation [AOR = 1.71, 95% C.I (1.06, 2.73)] were significantly associated with stunting. Adolescent girls engaged in vigorous intensity activities [AOR = 2.51, 95% C.I (1.14, 5.54)], poor dietary diversity score [AOR = 4.05, 95% C.I (1.43, 11.46)] and adolescent age [AOR = 3.77, 95% C.I (1.06, 13.37)] were significantly associated with thinness among adolescent girls.
Adolescent girl's undernutrition is a public health problem in the study area. The number of meals per day, adolescent girls of lower grades and who did not begin menstruation were significantly associated with stunting as well as adolescent girls engaged in vigorous-intensity activities; poor dietary diversity score and adolescent age were significantly associated with thinness among adolescent girls. Therefore, government and other stakeholders should focus on these identified factors to improve the nutritional status of adolescent girls.
青少年是年龄在10至19岁之间的人群。他们正经历快速的生长发育，是需要关注的营养风险群体之一。青少年营养不良是一个全球性问题。尽管这个阶段为打破营养不良的代际循环带来了第二个机会窗口，但在该研究区域，具体情况却鲜为人知。本研究旨在评估2021年埃塞俄比亚中部阿布纳金德贝雷特地区在校青春期女孩中营养不良的患病率及其相关因素。
2021年1月1日至30日，在阿布纳金德贝雷特地区对10至19岁的中小学青春期女孩进行了基于机构的横断面定量研究设计。采用系统随机抽样技术选取了587名青春期女孩。通过访谈员管理的结构化问卷和人体测量收集数据。数据进行编码后，录入Epi-info 7.2.2.6版本，并导出到SPSS 25版本和WHO Anthro plus进行分析。进行逻辑回归分析以确定营养不良的预测因素。统计学显著性水平设定为p值<0.05。
发育迟缓与消瘦的总体发生率分别为15.4% [95%置信区间(12 - 18)]和14.2% [95%置信区间(11 - 17)]。每日进餐次数[AOR = 3.62, 95%置信区间(2.16, 6.05)]、低年级青春期女孩[AOR = 2.08, 95%置信区间(1.07, 4.04)]以及未初潮的女孩[AOR = 1.71, 95%置信区间(1.06, 2.73)]与发育迟缓显著相关。从事高强度活动的青春期女孩[AOR = 2.51, 95%置信区间(1.14, 5.54)]、饮食多样性得分低[AOR = 4.05, 95%置信区间(1.43, 11.46)]以及年龄较大的青春期女孩[AOR = 3.77, 95%置信区间(1.06, 13.37)]与消瘦显著相关。
青春期女孩营养不良是研究区域的一个公共卫生问题。每日进餐次数、低年级青春期女孩以及未初潮的女孩与发育迟缓显著相关，从事高强度活动的青春期女孩、饮食多样性得分低以及年龄较大的青春期女孩与消瘦显著相关。因此，政府和其他利益相关者应关注这些已确定的因素，以改善青春期女孩的营养状况。
