Nutritional status of adolescent girls from an urban slum area in South India.

OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional status of adolescent girls in a slum community of Urban Health Center, Panangal. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of two months. 223 adolescent girls of age 10-18 years were selected randomly. Data was collected by interviewing the adolescent girls using predesigned, pre tested, semi-structured schedule. Parents interview was taken whenever necessary. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standardized methodology as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Standard operational definitions were used. Various statistical applications like percentiles, mean, standard deviation and proportions were used for analysis of the data. RESULTS Overall prevalence of stunting was found to be 47% and 28.3% as per NCHS and Indian standards respectively. Prevalence of underweight was 42.6% and 22.9% as per NCHS and Indian standards respectively. Prevalence of thinness was 20.6% as per Indian standards. CONCLUSION It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of under nutrition among adolescent girls in this slum community. Health education and nutrition interventions are needed on priority basis.