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Poor Eating Habits and Chronic Malnutrition Among Adolescent Girls in Secondary Schools in Popokabaka, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018
Abstract
Introduction:
Adopting poor eating habits during adolescence can dramatically affect nutritional and health status in adulthood. To break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition in the Congolese population, it is crucial to focus more on adolescent girls. This study aims to assess the prevalence of poor eating habits and chronic malnutrition among teenage girls and to examine the link between the two variables.
Materials and Methods:
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2018 among 434 adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years attending secondary schools in Popokabaka. Structured interviews were conducted using 24-hour recall and weekly food frequency techniques, supplemented with clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical assessments. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data.
Results:
The most common poor eating habits among adolescent girls included inadequate consumption of whole grains and cereals, frequent consumption of fatty foods, sweets, and highly salted foods prepared outside the home (fast foods, 95.4%), snacks (94.0%), and sugary beverages (90.7%). Chronic malnutrition affected 14.5% of the adolescents. Frequent consumption of snacks (AOR=0.13; 95% CI=0.05–0.30) and inadequate consumption of whole grains and cereals (AOR=9.37; 95% CI=2.69–32.67) were statistically associated with chronic malnutrition.
Conclusion:
Chronic malnutrition among adolescent girls attending secondary schools in Popokabaka is linked to their poor eating habits.
Keywords: Poor eating habits; chronic malnutrition; adolescent girls; DRC
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v48.2.6901
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