Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:54:46.316Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Dietary pattern, nutrient intake and growth of adolescent school girls in urban Bangladesh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1998

Faruk Ahmed
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Momtaz Zareen
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Moududur Rahman Khan
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Cadi Pervin Banu
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Mohammed Nazmul Haq
Affiliation:
Institute of Education and Research, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Alan A Jackson*
Affiliation:
Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, UK
*
*Corresponding author: E-mail [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

To investigate the dietary pattern and nutritional status of adolescent girls attending schools in Dhaka city and to examine the association with various social factors.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

Girls high schools in Dhaka city.

Subjects:

A total of 384 girls, aged from 10 to 16 years, who were students of classes VI to IX of 12 girls high schools in Dhaka city were selected by systematic random sampling. Nutrient intake was assessed using the 24-h recall method and the usual pattern of food intake was examined using a 7-day food frequency questionnaire.

Results:

The prevalence of undernutrition among the participants assessed as stunting was 10% overall with younger girls being less stunted (2%) than older girls (16%), whereas 16% were thin with relatively more of the younger girls (21%) being thin than of the older girls (12%). Based on the usual pattern of food intake, a substantial proportion of the girls did not consume eggs (26%), milk (35%) or dark green leafy vegetables (20%). By comparison, larger proportions consumed meat (50%) and fish (65%) at least four times a week. For the intake of energy and protein, only 9 and 17% of the girls, respectively, met the recommended daily allowance (RDA). For nearly 77% of the girls, the intake of fat was less than the recommendation. Intakes less than the RDA were found for iron (77% of the girls), calcium (79%), vitamin A (62%), vitamin C (67%), and riboflavin (96%). Based on the food consumption data, cereals were the major source of energy (57%), thiamin (67%), niacin (63%) and iron (37%). Animal sources supplied 50% of dietary protein. Cooking fats were the principal source of fat (67%) in the diet. Milk was the major contributor for riboflavin and preformed vitamin A (retinol). Leafy vegetables and fruits were the main sources of provitamin A (carotenes). The girls from families with less educated parents were more likely to be thin and short for their age. Those girls from families with lower incomes and less educated parents had a dietary pattern which tended to be poor with regard to egg, milk, meat and fruit, with lower intakes of protein, fat and riboflavin.

Conclusion:

The findings indicate that the diets of these girls tended to be inadequate both for macronutrients and micronutrients, with significant health implications. There was also a relationship between the family income and the education of the parents with the nutritional status of the girls.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 1998

References

1Jackson, AA. Perinatal nutrition: the impact on postnatal growth and development. In: Gluckman, PD, Heymann, A, eds. Pediatrics and Perinatology. London: Arnold, 1996: 298303.Google Scholar
2Rees, JM, Christine, MT. Nutritional influences on physical growth and behavior in adolescence. In: Adams, G, ed. Biology of Adolescent Behaviour and Development. California: Sage Publications, 1989.Google Scholar
3Eveleth, PB, Tanner, JM. Worldwide Variation in Human Growth, 2nd edn.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.Google Scholar
4Dreizen, S, Spirakis, CN, Stone, RE. A comparison of skeletal growth and maturation in undernourished and well nourished girls before and after menarche. J. Pediatr. 1967: 70: 256–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Mitchell, HS. Protein limitations and human growth. Am. J. Diet. Assoc. 1964; 44: 165–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Harrison, KA, Fleming, AF, Brigge, ND, Rossifer, CE. Growth during pregnancy in Nigerian primigravidae. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 1985; 5: 32–9.Google Scholar
7Brabin, L, Brabin, BJ. The cost of successful adolescent growth and development in girls in relation to iron and vitamin A status. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1992; 55: 955–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Herbeth, B, Spyckerella, Y, Deschamps, JP. Determinants of plasma retinol, beta-carotene and tocopherol during adolescence. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1991; 54: 884–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Matkovic, V, Ilich, Z. Calcium requirements for growth: are current recommendations adequate? Nutr. Rev. 1993; 51: 171–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10INFS. National Nutrition Survey of Rural Bangladesh, 81–82. Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh: University of Dhaka, 1983.Google Scholar
11FAO/WHO/UNU. Energy and Protein Requirements. WHO Technical Report Series, no. 724. Geneva: WHO, 1985.Google Scholar
12Ahmed, F, Khan, MR, Karim, R, et al. Serum retinol and biochemical measures of iron status in adolescent school girls in urban Bangladesh. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 1996; 50:346–51.Google ScholarPubMed
13NCHS. Growth Curves for Children 0–18 Years. National Centre for Health Statistics, Washington, DC, 1976.Google Scholar
14WHO. Physical Status: the Use and Interpretation of Anthropometry. WHO Technical Report Series, no. 854. Geneva: WHO, 1995.Google Scholar
15Ali, SMK, Pramanik, MMA. Conversion Factors and Dietary Calculations. Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh: University of Dhaka, 1991.Google Scholar
16INFS. Deshia Khadyadrabyer Pushtiman (Nutritive Value of Indigenous Foodstufls). Dhaka, Bangladesh: University of Dhaka, 1992.Google Scholar
17Gopalan, C, Rama Sastri, BV, Balasubramanian, SC. Nutritive Value of Indian Foods. National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India: Indian Council of Medical Research, 1993.Google Scholar
18Statistical Package for Social Sciences. SPSS/PC + version 4.0. Chicago, IL: SPSS Inc., 1990.Google Scholar
19Islam, N, Huq, ATMZ, Rahman, QM. Study of Urban Poverty in Bangladesh. Policy Papers, Final Report, vol. 2; Planning Commission, Government of Bangladesh and Asian Development Bank.Google Scholar
20Spurr, GB. Effects of chronic energy deficiency on stature, work capacity and productivity. In: Schurch, B, Scrimshaw, NS, eds. Chronic Energy Deficiency, Consequences and Related Issues. I/D/E/C/G, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1987: 95134.Google Scholar
21Garrow, JS, James, WPT. Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1993: 401.Google Scholar
22Pushpamma, P, Geervani, P, Lakshmi, DN. Food intake, nutrient adequacy and anthropometry of adolescents in Andra Pradesh. Indian J. Nutr. Med. Res. 1982; 75: 61–7.Google Scholar
23Durnin, JVGA, Lonergem, ME, Good, J. A cross-sectional nutritional and anthropometric study, with an interval of 7 years, on 611 young adolescent school children. Br. J. Nutr. 1974; 32: 169–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24Whitehead, RG, Paul, AA, Cole, TJ. Trends in food energy intakes throughout childhood from 1 to 18 years. Hum. Nutr. Appl. Nutr. 1982; 36: 5762.Google ScholarPubMed
25Canada National Survey. Nutrition: a National Priority. Ottawa, Canada, Department of National Health and Welfare, 1973.Google Scholar
26Leibel, LR. Behavioral and biochemical correlates of iron deficiency: a review. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1977; 71: 399404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27Waterlow, JC, Schurch, B. Causes and mechanisms of linear growth retardation. Proceedings of and IDECG workshop. Euro. J. Clin. Nutr. 1994; 48: suppl 1.Google Scholar
28Kramer, MS. Determinants of low birth weight: methodological assessment and meta-analysis. Bulletin WHO 1987; 65: 663737.Google ScholarPubMed
29Ahmed, F, Bhuyan, MAH, Shaheen, N, Barua, S, Margetts, BM, Jackson, AA. Effect of socio-economic conditions on growth of urban school age children of Bangladesh. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 1991; 45: 327–30.Google Scholar
30Ahmed, F, Mohiduzzaman, M, Barua, S, Shaheen, N, Margetts, BM, Jackson, AA. Effect of family size and income on the biochemical indices of urban school children of Bangladesh. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 1992; 46: 465–73.Google ScholarPubMed
31ICMR. Recommended Dietary Intakes for Indians. New Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research, 1988Google Scholar
32World Health Organization. Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Technical Report series 767. Geneva: WHO, 1990.Google Scholar
33World Health Organization. Trace Elements in Human Nutrition. Geneva: WHO, 1990.Google Scholar