A comparative assessment of day and boarding adolescent girls on their dietary intake and nutritional status at Mukamambo II secondary school in Chongwe district, Lusaka province, Zambia.
Date
2019
Authors
Zambezi, Wila
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The adolescent period is second only to infancy for rapid growth. Adolescents between 10-18
years, experience a growth spurt that increases their nutritional needs. Therefore, consumption
of an inadequate diet results in delayed growth which leads to long-term consequences such as
undernutrition. In low-middle-income countries like Zambia, there is limited information pertaining
to adolescent girls and yet research has shown that around 16 million adolescent girls
give birth every year in developing countries. Adolescents in rural areas have poor nutritional
status due to inadequate dietary diversity which has become a contributor to poor optimal
growth.
The purpose of this study was to assess dietary intake and nutritional status of adolescent girls
in a rural boarding and day secondary school at Mukamambo II Girls Secondary School in
Chongwe District of Lusaka Province in Zambia.
A total of 208 girls were randomly selected and surveyed for nutritional status, socio-demographics
and dietary intake. Anthropometric data was collected by measuring weight to the
nearest 0.1kg and height to the nearest 0.1 cm, Socio-demographic data was collected using a
questionnaire and dietary intake data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire.
Of the 208 girls, underweight was not detected among the day and boarding school participants
based on BAZ- score. A total of 90.4% (n=188) were in the normal range of the BAZ for age.
Five percent (n=4) and 12% (n=15) were overweight representing day and boarding school
respectively. About 1% (n=1) in day and none of the students in the boarding school section
were obese. There was evidence of a negative correlation between BAZ index and age at menarche
(r = -0.141, p = 0.042). The results revealed that the girls usually consumed starchy staples
such as bread (28% in the day section and 18% in the boarding section), breakfast cereals
at 30% in the day section and 62% in the boarding section. Adolescents in the day section
consumed more meats while adolescents in the boarding school section consumed more pulses.
The study established that the majority of adolescent girls had a normal weight status, none
were underweight and stunting was not prevalent. The study recommends measures to improve
livelihood by incorporating nutrition education in schools in order to increase knowledge on
healthy eating habits amongst adolescent girls.
Key words: Adolescents; Nutrition; Dietary Intake; Nutritional Status; Menarche
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Nutrition--Secondary schools--Zambia , Dietary--Secondary schools--Zambia