Abstract
Background Adolescent girls were given little health and nutrition attention. Focusing on adolescent girls' nutrition prior to conception is one way to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among adolescent girls in rural Damot Sore District, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2017. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 729 adolescent girls. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on different variables. Weight and height were measured by using a well-calibrated digital Seca scale and portable stadiometer by trained data collectors. Height-for-age (HFA) and body mass index-for-age (BMIFA) z-scores were calculated using WHO AnthroPlus software as indicators of stunting and thinness, respectively. Wealth index was generated by using principal component analysis (PCA), and based on the results, household wealth index/status was converted into tertiles and categorized as higher/rich, medium, and lower/poor. Descriptive statistics, bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done. Strength of association of variables was presented by odds ratio along with its 95% CI. Results The prevalence of stunting and thinness among adolescent girls was 29.6% (95% CI = 26.6%, 32.8%) and 19.5% (95% CI = 16.7%, 22.3%), respectively. Being in older adolescence (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.08, 3.92), mother occupation (farmer and government employee) ((AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.31, 4.33) and (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.35, 6.92)), mother education (secondary and above) ((AOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.98) and (AOR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.09, 0.69)), and household wealth index (poor) (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.29, 2.92) were significantly associated with stunting. Father education (primary and secondary) ((AOR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.31, 0.77) and (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.26, 0.78)), mother education (primary) (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.37, 0.87), and meal frequency (<2/day) (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.12, 3.13) were significantly associated with thinness. Conclusion The prevalence of stunting and thinness among adolescent girls was moderate, when compared to the prevalence reported in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, it was a major public health problem, when compared to the national nutrition baseline survey reports in Ethiopia. Parental education was a significant predictor of both stunting and thinness among adolescent girls. Thus, initiation of routine screening, promotion of education, and implementation of evidence based community nutrition programmes required to be improved.
Highlights
Adolescent girls were given little health and nutrition attention
In Ethiopia, children and adolescents constitute about 48% of Ethiopian population and of this about 13% are girls according to mini Ethiopian demographic and health survey report of 2014 [3]
Study Setting, Design, and Period. is study was conducted in Damot Sore Woreda which is located at 320 km away from Addis Ababa to the south and 17 km away from Sodo town in the western direction. e Woreda has 21 kebeles with different climatic zones and rural urban living residences
Summary
Adolescent girls were given little health and nutrition attention. Focusing on adolescent girls’ nutrition prior to conception is one way to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. erefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among adolescent girls in rural Damot Sore District, Southern Ethiopia. E prevalence of stunting and thinness among adolescent girls was moderate, when compared to the prevalence reported in Sub-Saharan Africa It was a major public health problem, when compared to the national nutrition baseline survey reports in Ethiopia. According to Ahmed et al, 2009, as cited in Yoseph et al, 2014, adolescence is a decisive period of development because it represents the transition between life as a child and life as an adult covering the ages between 10 and 19 years During this crucial period, dietary patterns have vital impact on lifetime nutritional status and health [1]. Adolescence is the second most critical period of physical growth in life cycle after first year of infancy It is the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism most important period of life where growth and development are accompanied by numerous physical, physiological, behavioural, and social changes [4,5,6]. It is the future generation of any country and meeting their nutritional needs is critical for the wellbeing of a society [7]
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