Cross-Sectional Analysis of Nutritional Status, Knowledge and Uptake of Nutritional Services Among Adolescent Girls in Western India

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics (1252)

Demographic Characteristics	Study Participants
	N (%)
Age
10–14 (Early Adolescence)	725 (57.9)
15–19 (Late Adolescence)	527 (42)
Mean Age	13.8 ± 2.31
Education
Illiterate	50 (4.0)
Primary	521 (41.6)
Secondary	587 (46.9)
Higher Secondary	93 (7.4)
Graduation	1 (0.8)
School status
Presently school-going	824 (65.8)
Out-of-school	428 (34.2)

Table 2 Awareness About Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls (N = 1252)

Variables	N (%)
Heard about Iron-deficiency Anemia
Yes	255 (20.4)
No	997 (79.6)
Knowledge about signs and symptoms of Anemia
Weakness	145 (11.6)
Pale skin	85 (6.8)
Fatigue	101 (8.1)
Giddiness	105 (8.4)
Lethargy	69 (5.5)
Knowledge about haemoglobin test
Yes	369 (29.5)
No	883 (70.5)
Knowledge about malnutrition
Know	178 (14.2)
Partially know	218 (17.4)
Do not know	856 (68.4)

Table 3 Practice Related to General Hygiene (N = 1252)

Variables	N (%)
Handwash Practices
In all critical incidents	214 (17.10)
Before preparing food	1030 (82.3)
Before feeding a child	558 (44.6)
After using toilets	1062 (84.8)
After handling cattle	460 (36.7)
After cleaning or mopping	924 (73.8)
After feeding a child	381 (30.4)
Substance Used for Handwashing
Handwash with soap	1094 (87.4)
Handwash with plain water with/without Ash	155 (12.4)
Household Access to Toilet
Have toilet at home	1005 (80.3)

Table 4 Nutritional and Health Services Availed by the Adolescent Girls (N = 1252)

Services	N (%)
Weighing	788 (62.9)
Counselling	644 (51.4)
Take Home Ration	594 (47.4)
Iron Folic Acid and Calcium Tablets	541 (43.2)
Double Fortified Salt	373 (29.8)

Table 5 Grades of BMI for Age in Adolescent Girls According to WHO Asia Pacific Criteria (n = 1240)

Weight for Age	N (%)
Underweight (<18.5 kg/m^2)	243 (19.6)
Normal Weight (18.5–22.9 kg/m^2)	854 (68.9)
Overweight (23.0–24.9 kg/m^2)	110 (8.9)
Obese (≥25.0 kg/m^2)	33 (2.6)

Table 6 Association of Socio-Demographic Parameters with Nutritional Status Among Adolescent Girls (n = 1240)

Parameters	Underweight (<18.5 kg/m^2)	Normal Weight (18.5–22.9 kg/m^2)	Overweight (23.0–24.9 kg/m^2)	Obese (≥25.0 kg/m^2)	P-value^$
	N	N	N	N
Age (n = 1240)
10 to 14	112	515	73	20	0.0002**
15 to 19	131	339	37	13
School status (n = 1240)
School going	162	564	70	18	0.5375
Non-school going	81	290	40	15
Education (n = 1240)
Illiterate	9	34	5	1	0.4529
Up to primary education	103	363	38	9
Secondary and higher education	131	457	67	23
Type of family (n = 1240)
Joint	129	511	58	19	0.1849
Nuclear	114	343	52	14
Caste (n = 1194)
SC /ST	40	141	14	5	0.3463
OBC	163	519	79	17
General	38	153	16	9
Religion (n = 1240)
Hindu	196	695	91	27	0.5127
Muslim	46	154	17	5
Other	1	5	2	1
Family members (n = 1240)
1	4	15	4	2	0.01675*
2 to 3	216	747	96	27
4 or more	23	92	10	4
Knowledge about Hemoglobin test (n = 1240)
Yes	55	259	40	13	0.02022*
No	188	595	70	20
Knowledge about malnutrition
Know	37	103	29	8	0.0002**
Do not know	206	751	81	25
Knowledge about menstrual hygiene (n = 1240)
Know	82	351	50	18	0.0358*
Do not know	161	503	60	15
Uptake of services (n = 1240)
Availed counselling	117	439	65	17	0.3039
Not availed counselling	126	415	45	16
Availed IFA & calcium tablets	102	377	45	13	0.8294
Not availed IFA & calcium tablets	141	477	65	20
Availed THR	108	407	56	18	0.5543
Not availed THR	135	447	54	15
Availed anthropometry during Mamta Diwas	107	364	52	17	0.6163
Not availed anthropometry during Mamta Diwas	136	490	58	16
Hygiene and sanitation
Hand-washing in all critical incidents	44	148	13	4	0.3853
Not hand-washing in all critical incidents	199	705	97	30
Use of toilet for defecation	180	682	94	29	0.0411*
Not using toilet for defecation	63	172	16	4

Notes: ^$P-value is of Chi-square test of independence. *Significant at 0.05 level. **Significant at 0.01 level.