ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine dietary diversification and its effect on the anthropometric status of adolescents (10-19yrs) in secondary schools in Abia state. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain information on the socio-economic characteristics, food habits and 24-hour dietary intake of the students. Anthropometric measurements (heights, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference), were taken using standard procedures. This was analyzed using WHO classification. Information on dietary diversity representing the number of foods groups consumed over 24 hour period was obtained using individual dietary diversity questionnaire (IDDQ) was calculated based on nine food groups. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics (such as frequency and percentages) and cross tabulation. Chi square test were used to determine the relationship between nutritional status and dietary diversity. From the result, about 43.9% of the study populations were within the age of 14-16 years. A higher percentage of the parent’s occupation was observed to be trading (52.0%) for fathers and mothers (55.6%) followed by civil servants (21.4% and 16.8%) for fathers and mothers, respectively. About 30.6% had family income between N18, 000 to N30, 000. Some (42.1%) skipped meals out of which 43.4% skipped breakfast. Most (61.2%) consumed pastries in-between meals. The prevalence of stunting and underweight were 18.0% and 18.0% for males and 14.1% and 17.9% for females respectively. There was no significant relationship between male and female (p>0.05) in their height- for age- z-score and BMI-for-age-z-scores. There was no significant association between the dietary diversity score (DDS) and height- for- age (x2= 7.367; p= 0.288) and BMI- for- age (x2=3.022; p=0.806) of the adolescent students. The prevalence of low, medium and high DDS was 7.7%, 67.3% and 25.0%. Prevalence of stunting and underweight in this study was high and so there is need to educate their mothers on the importance of dietary diversity. Also, Vitamin A and C rich foods, iron, calcium and nutrient-rich animal proteins, including eggs, fruits, milk and milk products, should be increased in the school meals and meals eaten at home by these adolescents