ABSTRACT

This study was designed to examine the dietary habits, iron and vitamin A status of adolescent female secondary and university students in Umuahia North arid Ikwuano LGAs of Abia states. One thousand and six hundred adolescent female students aged 10 to 19 years who have reached menarche were randomly selected for this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Measurements of heights, weights and blood pressure (B.P) of subjects were taken Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Dietary assessment was done using a 3-day weighed food intake. Foods not contained in the food composition table were analyzed to determine their nutrient content. Venous blood samples were collected and used for determining serum retinol and packed cell volume (PCV). Results showed that the University adolescent girls had better nutrition knowledge score (94.37% vs 92.25%), consumed more snacks (33.13% vs 30%), vitamin and mineral supplements daily (42.5% vs 39.5%), ate more boiled foods (60.88% vs 48.75%), non-food substances (63.5% vs 61%), drank more carbonated drinks (87.5% vs 73.87%), alcoholic beverages (19.37% vs 16.87%). and did not smoke cigarette (90.38 % vs 81.75%), than their secondary school counterparts. Majority (50.25 % vs 49.25%), of the secondary school adolescents abstained from sex and liked eating with their family members (71.13 % vs 69.5%) than their university counterparts. Food frequency questionnaire indicated that rice. gari, bread, sweet potato. fish, crayfish, biscuit, milk, groundnuts and red palm oil were foods most frequently consumed by both secondary school and university adolescents. Anthropometric indices showed that university adolescents had better nutritional status compared to xvii their secondary school counterparts. The energy and nutrient intake for both the secondary school and university adolescents were higher than FAO I WHO standards. The energy intake of the university adolescents (24077.76 Kit day) was higher than that of their secondary school counterparts (16059.54 KJI day). Protein intake was 93.45g1 day and 135.39g/ day for the secondary school and university adolescents respectively. Carbohydrate (937.60% vs 757.10%), fat (157.09% vs 31.68%), iron (37.14mg vs 31.68mg), vitamin A (9135.20pg retinol vs 6296.lopg retinol) and ascorbic acid (179.71mg % vs 94.15mg), intakes / day of the university adolescents were higher than their secondary school counterparts respectively. The mean PCV (0.40 and 0.38 LI!) and serum retinol (22.26 and 20.60 1/1) were normal for both the secondary school and university students respectively although the secondary school students had more PCV and serum retinol than their university counterparts. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that for PCV in the secondary school, the most important predictors were family size and Vitamin A intake while none of the variables were found important in the determination of serum retinol. Among the university adolescents, the most important predicators for PCV were pica, iron and Vitamin A intakes while the most important predictor for serum retinol was iron intake. The study showed that in the meantime, sound nutrition practice calls for increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits among adolescent female secondary school and University students in Abia State.