Determinants of malnutrition among adolescent females of age 15-19 years in an urban slum of Raipur city.

Abstract

Context: Adolescent girls suffer the brunt of malnutrition due to increased nutritional needs to facilitate rapid growth spurt including menstruation and increased physical activity. This vulnerable group has low social power and is subjected to peer and social pressures related to body image and weight. All these factors along with the sociocultural milieu may lead to a spectrum of nutritional problems in them.

Aims: To determine factors associated with malnourishment among adolescent females of age 15-19 years in an urban slum of Raipur City.

Settings and design: The study setting was the urban field practice area of the institute in Raipur. The study was an analytical cross-sectional study done from January 2022 to June 2023 among 401 adolescent girls of age 15-19 years.

Methods and material: The sampling was done using the consecutive sampling method. The study tools used were a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographic variables and details of the respondents, anthropometric measurements, dietary assessment using the 24-hour food recall method, and food consumption patterns using a food frequency questionnaire.

Statistical analysis used: The Chi-square test of significance was applied to find the association between malnourishment with the input variables. For calculating the strength of the association, the odds ratio was estimated for those variables with P value < 0.2 in the Chi-square test, and later the odds ratio was adjusted for confounding with the same variables, using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: According to BMI-for-age Z scores, 2% were severely thin (< -3 SD), 9.7% were thin (-3 to - 2 SD), 5% were overweight (1 to 2 SD), and 1.5% were obese (>2SD). While measuring the height-for-age Z scores, 5.5% had severe stunting and 21.9% had moderate stunting. Those respondents with educational status of high school or below [AOR 3.5 (1.8-6.8), P < 0.001] and those who did not consume a non-vegetarian diet [AOR 2.1 (1.1-4.1), P = 0.02] had significantly higher adjusted odds of being undernourished (severely thin or thin) as compared to those with educational status above high school and those who consumed a mixed diet, respectively. The respondents who are currently not going to school/college had significantly higher adjusted odds [AOR 2.2 (1.2-3.8), P = 0.007] of being stunted when compared to those who are attending school/college.

Conclusions: The significant levels of malnutrition observed in this study among late adolescent girls aged 15-19 years-11.7% undernourishment, 6.5% overnourishment, and 27.4% stunting-highlight the concerning vulnerability of this population. The higher prevalence of stunting throws light onto the chronicity of malnutrition. As seen from the significant associations, proper education, and a mixed diet will help nurture a healthy female adolescent population.