Factors associated with adolescent malnutrition among Nigerian students

Authors

  • Aishatu Ahmed Abdulkarim Consultant and Senior lecturer, Department of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, University of Ilorin
  • Adekunle T Otuneye Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, National Hospital, Abuja
  • Patience Ahmed Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, National Hospital, Abuja
  • Dennis R Shattima Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, National Hospital, Abuja

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v15i2.20619

Keywords:

adolescent, malnutrition, associated factors

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with malnutrition among adolescents.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among adolescents (10-19 years) in secondary schools. A multistage sampling technique was employed.

Setting: Senior secondary schools in The Abuja Municipal area council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.

Participants: A total of 1700 students from 8 selected schools. All schools in the Abuja Municipal Area council (AMAC) were stratified into urban and rural schools. Eight schools were selected by balloting from a list of schools obtained from the Education centre. A school was selected from each of the four major districts of AMAC and four schools were selected from the rural making a total of 8 schools. Although the consent of the school authorities was obtained, individual subject also consented to the study before being enrolled.

Study: The study excluded those adolescents who were physically challenged thus limiting physical activity. Sociodemographic information was obtained using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Subjects height and weight was taken using the floor-type height (H) and weight (W) measuring scale model ZT-120 using Massachusetts Department of Public Health Protocol.

Main outcome measure: The nutritional status was determined using the formula: BMI= W/H2, where W=weight (in kilograms) and H=height (in meters). The age and sex specific height and BMI percentile for each subject was determined using the 2007 WHO Height and BMI growth charts for age 5-19 years. The students were then classified into one of the following categories using previously used standards: normal, stunted, wasted, overweight or obese. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17 statistical package. A regression analysis of all investigated factors was done to determine those with significant association to malnutrition.

Results: The mean age was 14.43±1.94 years; male 688, female 862, M:F ratio 1.1.3. Mean BMI, weight and height were 20.31±3.07kg/m2, 51.07±10.80 kg, and 157.88±9.33 cm. The prevalence of overweight, stunting, obesity and wasting was documented as 13.2% (205/1550), 11.3% (175/1550), 2.6% (41/1550) and 1.7% (27/1550) respectively. Low social class, male gender, hawking after school and rural setting were associated with stunting (p<0.05) and female gender and watching Television for more than 3 hours daily were associated with overweight (p<0.05). Obesity occurred more in urban areas.

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(2) 2016 p.243-248

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
94
PDF
102

Downloads

Published

2016-08-10

How to Cite

Abdulkarim, A. A., Otuneye, A. T., Ahmed, P., & Shattima, D. R. (2016). Factors associated with adolescent malnutrition among Nigerian students. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 15(2), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v15i2.20619

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2016)

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish in the Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science agree to the following terms that:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science the right of first publication of the work.

  2. Creative Commons Licence
    Articles in Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License CC BY-4.0.This license permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
  3. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  4. Authors are permitted to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as greater citation of published work.