Abstract:
Background : Adolescence is the phase of human life at which the second fastest human developmental change occurs (10-19 years). This developmental change increases the undernutrition risk, which hinders growth spurt in adolescents. The Magnitude and factors associated with undernutrition among adolescents were unknown in the study area.
Objective: To assess magnitudes of undernutrition and associated factors among adolescent female students at Becho District schools, south west shoa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 683 female adolescent students from October to December 2022. The participants were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected by interviewer admnistred questionnires and anthropmetric measurements. A binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify candidate variables and variables with P value less than 0.25 was entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis. Finally, variables with P-value less than 0.05 in the multivariate logistic regression model was taken as statistically significant.
Results : A total of 683 adolescent female were participated in the study making a response rate of 100%. In the study 142(20.8%),379(55.5%) and 162(23.7%) of early adolescent, mid adolescent and late adolescent were participated respectively. The current study found that the overall magnitude of undernutrition among adolescent female in Becho district schools were 93 (13.6%). The overall magnitudes of stunting, thinness, and both stunting and thinness were 52 (7.6%), 43 (6.3%), and 2 (0.29%), respectively. Early-adolescents (AOR = 6.015; 95% CI: 1.627-12.229), mid-adolescents (AOR = 1.697; 95% CI: 1.053, 2.733), father’s educational status those had no formal Education (AOR = 10.616; 95% CI = 2.824-19.909) and had secondary education (AOR = 13.845; 95% CI = 3.287,18.318) and had an improved latrine were (AOR = 0.116; 95% CI: 0.031-0.437) statistically significant association with stunting. Living in urban (AOR: 0.190; 95% CI =0.066, 0.550) and had a Solid Waste Disposal (AOR = 0.367; 95% CI: 0.165-0.817) were significantly associated with thinness..Conclusion :The magnitude of undernutritions were moderate public health problems at the study area. Age, father’s education and availability of functional latrine were significant factors for stunting. Residence and availability of Solid Waste Disposal at house hold were factors significantly associated with thinness.
Therefore, supporting adolescent age 10-16 years old, modifying rural living style, basic education for fathers, sustaining latrine utilization and enviromenatl sanitation should needed
