Factors influencing the nutritional status of adolescents in selected Public Secondary Schools of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical time for nutritional intervention to support growth, yet understanding of adolescent nutritional status is limited. This study examines the patterns and determinants of nutritional status among adolescents in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. 

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1073 public secondary school attending adolescents aged 10-19 years in Abakaliki. Sociodemographic data were collected using self-completed questionnaires, while weight and height were measured to derive Height for Age (HAZ) scores and Body Mass Index (BMI)-Z scores based on the 2007 WHO growth reference chart. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate methods using SPSS version 26. The ethics committee at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki approved the research. 

Results: Of the 1,073 participants, 64.4% were female. Slightly over half (51.6%) were middle-aged adolescents, with 3.4% underweight, 8.8% overweight, 8.7% stunted, and 1.6% tall for their age. The BMI-Z score was associated with sex, class, and fathers’ and mothers’ education (p = 0.001; 0.04; 0.01; 0.001). The HAZ score was associated with age group (p = 0.00). Multivariate analysis revealed that sex and both parents’ educational status strongly predicted BMI status, with females being about 16 times more likely (P = 0.00) to be overweight than males. Additionally, age, class, sex, and mother’s education was predictive of height Z score. 

Conclusion: Underweight and stunting are associated with early adolescence, male gender, and low parental education. Regular nutritional assessments can identify at-risk individuals for targeted interventions to improve adolescent nutrition, including educational programs for students and parents.