ABSTRACT

This study assessed dietary intake and micronutrients (zinc, iron and iodine) rich food consumption among in-school female adolescents. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 260 in-school female adolescents. Data on socio demographic characteristics, micronutrient consumption habit, and frequency of dietary consumption pattern of the students were collected using structured and validated questionnaire. The IBM SPSS version 22.0 computer programme was used to analyze the data. Data obtained were described using frequency and percentage. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between socio-economic/demographic status and micronutrient consumption habit of the students. The P-value was judged at < 0.05. Results showed that most (61.2%) of the respondents live with their both parents and majority of them are married (88.8%). Some (46.9% and 44.2%) of the fathers attended secondary and tertiary education respectively and few (34.2%) are civil servants. Majority (75.4%) of the respondents ate 2 to 3 number meals of a day. Majority (82.7%) of the respondents consumed iodized salt always. Most (64.2%) of them sometimes consumed beef and pork while some (47.3%) consumed cashew and oats sometimes. A good number (48.1%) and of the respondents consumed foods from cereals, root and tubers, and few (33.5%) dairy products food group daily. However, majority (80.4%) of the respondents had low dietary diversity.  There was a significant negative association between daily consumption of snail (r=-.209; p=<0.05), daily consumption of cashew (r=-.234; p=<0.05) and single parents. However, a significant positive association was found between daily consumption of snail (r=260; p=<0.05), daily consumption of cashew (r=.246; p=<0.05) and parents of respondents who were married. There was a significant positive association between consumption of more than 3 meals a day (r=.283; p=<0.05) with fathers who had high level of education. A significant relationship was found between fathers who are civil servants (r=.338; p=<0.05) and consumption of more than 3 meals a day. Nutrition education seems to be crucial in encouraging healthy eating habits among adolescents and their parents. It is important to find practical methods to increase the regularity of nutrition education among adolescents and their families. There should be a range of initiatives to advice and encourage family on the provision of adequate diet for students, as family support plays significant role in shaping adolescents’ feeding habits.