Patterns of Life Style and Hygienic Conditions among the Selected Rural School Going Adolescent Girls at Thakurgaon Sadar Areas, Bangladesh

Abstract

The nutritional status, life style behavior, knowledge of hygiene, and food intake patterns of 225 school going adolescent girls studying in class seven to ten were assessed by a cross-sectional study in different rural schools of Thakurgaon Upazila during January to June 2013. About 42.2% of the respondents had seven to eight members in their family but only 23.6% of their monthly family income was higher than 9000 tk. The economic hardship is extensive in this rural area and most of the people are agriculture-dependent. The prevalence of malnutrition among the respondents was high and 6.6, 17.6, and 51.5% of them were suffering from CED₃, CED₂, and CED₁, respectively. However, 17.6% of them were normal and 2.6% were overweight. Ninety seven percent of the household had family latrine but only 12.9% families had sanitary latrine/pacca latrine. Above 85% of the respondents did not have proper knowledge on nutrition. About 94.2% of the respondents did not have knowledge on balanced diet and only 12% of the respondents took nutritious foods during adolescence period and 88.5% respondents did not have proper knowledge on food misconception. A significant correlation ship (p = 0.013) was observed between respondent monthly family income and nutritional status (BMI) and the partial correlation coefficient was r = 0.158. If other things remained constant or controlled, the nutritional status (BMI) of the respondent was increased with increase in the monthly income. Food intake pattern of the respondents was monotonous and the sources of animal food such as meat, fish, and milk were very limited.

Keywords: malnutrition, nutritious food, adolescent, balanced diet, adolescent period, BMI, misconception, Bangladesh