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Factors contributing to malnutrition of rural adolescent girls in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Mulugeta Afework,
Hagos Fitsum,
Kruseman Gideon,
Linderhof Vincent,
Stoecker Barbara J.,
Abraha Zenebe,
Yohannes Mekonnen,
Samuel Girmay G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a312-b
Subject(s) - malnutrition , environmental health , sanitation , latrine , medicine , body mass index , psychological intervention , micronutrient , underweight , demography , socioeconomics , geography , gerontology , overweight , sociology , pathology , psychiatry
Prevalence of malnutrition was assessed in 213 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. The mean age, height‐for‐age (HAZ), weight‐for‐age (WAZ), body mass index (BMI), and BMI Z scores were 14 y, −1.45, −1.87, 15.7 and −2.20, respectively. More than 35% of the households reported girls did more work than boys. Most households (74%) reported food shortage during the summer. More than 80% of the households had no latrine and their source of water was river and/or unprotected wells (96%). No access to micronutrient supplementation or de‐worming was reported for adolescents; however, 98% had access to health facilities for illness and immunizations. Stunting and under weight were 26.3 and 44.1% respectively. On the basis of their BMI, younger adolescents were more undernourished than older adolescents (p <0.0001). Reduction in number and quality of meals, and heavy involvement in works like laundry, cattle herding and long distance shopping were the main factors significantly associated with stunting. Differential treatment in food availability, reduction in the quality of meals and heavy workload were associated with under weight in adolescent girls. Participatory community level interventions to address girls' workloads and gender role expectations, environmental sanitation, and household food shortages are recommended. (Supported by Inst. for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands & Mekelle Univ., Ethiopia).