Cross-Sectional Analysis of Nutritional Status, Knowledge and Uptake of Nutritional Services Among Adolescent Girls in Western India

Abstract

PURPOSE: Malnutrition status of adolescent girls remains a major public health problem in India. The present study assessed nutritional status, associated factors contributing to malnutrition and their access to health-care services in Dev Bhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat situated in western part of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out using descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 1252 adolescent girls from all four blocks of Dev Bhumi Dwarka district were interviewed by field investigators. The data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, physical activities, diet, and anthropometry. The WHO classification for body mass index (BMI) was used to assess underweight, overweight, and obesity among adolescent girls. Chi-square analyses were performed to identify significant determinants of under-nutrition. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 13.82±2.31. Of the total, around 34% of the adolescent girls were out-of-school. The prevalence of underweight (