Nutritional status of adolescent girls in Bangladesh: findings of a community based survey

Abstract

Poverty, large population, socio-economic inequalities and inadequate access to proper health care facilities are the key causes of under nutrition in Bangladesh. Adolescents are the most vulnerable group for under nutrition and having great consequence as they will be parent in future. Studies on nutritional status of adolescent girls are fewer in number and have great effect for intervention. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and predisposing factors of under nutrition among the adolescent girls in Bangladesh. A community-based crosssectional survey was carried out from July to December 2013. Adolescent girls were the study population. Data was collected by face to face interview at household level. According to BMI category (kg/m2) the prevalence of underweight (BMI<18.5) was found 65.9% and as per Gomez Classification (Weight for age), the prevalence of malnutrition was 48.2% (mild), 23.5% (moderate) and 2.8% (severe) categories and finally, as per Water Low Classification wasting found 16.6% (mild), 3.5%(moderate) and 0.2% severe categories. On the other hand, stunting found 39.6 % (mild), 9.2% (moderate) and 2.3% (severe) categories. Prevalence of under nutrition was found much higher (82.3%) among younger age group (<12 years). Higher prevalence of under-nutrition also found among the functionally illiterate adolescent girls, it was 75.8% and 51.3% among illiterate and literate group respectively. In both of the cases difference was statistically significant(p<0.001). The prevalence of illness found higher among under-weight adolescent girls in last two weeks compare to healthy adolescent girls both in rural and urban settings. This difference also found statistically significant (p<0.001). Under nourishment found higher among younger and low literate girls. Prevalence of other symptoms is also found higher among them.

Improved dietary diversity of school adolescent girls in the context of urban Northwest Ethiopia: 2017

“…Similar finding showed in Ethiopian 29 and 30% of adolescent girls had thinness and anemia, respectively [ 13 ]. Furthermore, delayed puberty, contracted pelvis and unfavorable birth outcomes are noted in undernourished adolescent girls [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Multisectoral Nutrition Interventions and Their Impact on BMI and Thinness Levels Among Adolescent Girls: An Open Experiment in Two Remote Blocks of Karnataka, India

“…Using BMI-cut-offs the study estimated that 32.9% adolescent girls had ‘normal weight’ and 65.9% girls were ‘underweight’. However, for the same girls, by using a standard classification similar to BMI-for-age Z-scores (Water Low classification for wasting), the study found that 79.7% adolescent girls were ‘normal’ and the remaining 20% had ‘mild/moderate/severe thinness’ (Hossen et al, 2016).…”

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“…Poor nutrition is also a determining factor in health outcomes later in life. [2] According to 2011 census data, adolescents make up 20.9% of the total population in India and 18.9% of the total population in Karnataka. This is a significant opportunity with the potential to transform the country's social and economic fortunes.…”