ABSTRACT
Adolescence
is the only time following infancy when the rate of physical growth actually
increases. For this to happen there is a greater demand for calories and
nutrients. Thus, it is time of increased nutritional requirement. This study
assesses the cultural and socioeconomic factor that influences the dietary
choices and anthropometry status of adolescent students aged 10-19years
attending secondary school in Abia state. Employing a cross-sectional design,
data were analyzed using SPSS IBM version 25.0 for descriptive and correlation
analyses, and WHO Anthro-Plus software to calculate Height-for-Age (HAZ) and
BMI-for-Age (BAZ) scores. In this study result revealed that majority (54.3%), of the respondents
were male while (45.7%) were
female. Christianity (98.4 %), and for ethnicity it shows that majority are Igbo’s (97. 6%). While 31.7%
of respondents acknowledged family traditions as key dietary influences, only
32.2% identified religious beliefs as restricting their food choices.
Socioeconomic factors, such as food quality and affordability, played a
prominent role, with 44.7% emphasizing food quality in their choices.
Nutritional awareness was prevalent, as 59.1% reported consuming protein for
healthy growth and 57.7% prioritized foods for health benefits. Commonly
consumed foods included rice, bread, and fruits, while less accessible items
like pork and bush meat were less frequently consumed. Anthropometric findings
showed that (1.4%) of the respondents were severely wasted. (BMI-for-age below
-3 SD), 60.1% of adolescents in the dataset fall within the "normal"
BMI-for-age range (between -2 SD and +1 SD), Based on the respondents (37.5%)
were categorized as being at "possible risk of overweight” BMI-for-age
between +1 and +2 SD indicates overweight, and values above +2 SD and (5.0%) of
the respondents were classified as overweight The relationship between
anthropometric status, specifically BMI for age and socioeconomic factors among
respondents was investigated. Sex shows a significant correlation with BMI-for-age
(p=0.056). Religion also shows a significant relationship with BMI-age
(p=0.053). These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions,
including nutrition education and policy reforms, to address malnutrition and
promote sustainable healthy eating habits. This research provides valuable
insights for improving adolescent nutrition in Nigeria, contributing to
enhanced health outcomes and overall well-being.
CHINAZA, C (2025). Assessment Of Cultural And Socioeconomic Factors That Influence The Dietary Choices And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescent Student Attending Secondary School In Abia State:- Samuel, C. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Jul 11, 2025, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessment-of-cultural-and-socioeconomic-factors-that-influence-the-dietary-choices-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescent-student-attending-secondary-school-in-abia-state-samuel-c-7-2
CHINAZA, CHINAZA. "Assessment Of Cultural And Socioeconomic Factors That Influence The Dietary Choices And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescent Student Attending Secondary School In Abia State:- Samuel, C" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 10 Jul. 2025, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessment-of-cultural-and-socioeconomic-factors-that-influence-the-dietary-choices-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescent-student-attending-secondary-school-in-abia-state-samuel-c-7-2. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
CHINAZA, CHINAZA. "Assessment Of Cultural And Socioeconomic Factors That Influence The Dietary Choices And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescent Student Attending Secondary School In Abia State:- Samuel, C". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 10 Jul. 2025. Web. 11 Jul. 2025. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessment-of-cultural-and-socioeconomic-factors-that-influence-the-dietary-choices-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescent-student-attending-secondary-school-in-abia-state-samuel-c-7-2 >.
CHINAZA, CHINAZA. "Assessment Of Cultural And Socioeconomic Factors That Influence The Dietary Choices And Anthropometric Status Of Adolescent Student Attending Secondary School In Abia State:- Samuel, C" Mouau.afribary.org (2025). Accessed 11 Jul. 2025. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/assessment-of-cultural-and-socioeconomic-factors-that-influence-the-dietary-choices-and-anthropometric-status-of-adolescent-student-attending-secondary-school-in-abia-state-samuel-c-7-2