PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF STUNTING AND THINNESS AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS ATTENDING SCHOOL IN RURAL AND URBAN DEBARK DISTRICT NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2020: A COMPARATIVE CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Adolescence is the time of puberty that a substantial change in physical, mental, and emotional observed. And, nutritional requirements rise as a consequence. Even though previous studies have shown that the burden of undernutrition is different among urban and rural residents, little is known about their comparative findings. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of stunting and thinness among adolescent girls attending school in rural and urban Debark district Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Institution-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls from February 25 th to March 21 vi

st ,2020. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire along with anthropometric measurements. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed. The principal component analysis was conducted to assess the wealth status of the participants. Binary logistic regression was employed. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to control the effects of confounders and to identify factors associated with stunting and thinness. Statistical significance was declared using the adjusted odds ratio and p-value< 0.05. Results: From a total of 792girls, 757 were participated which makes a response rate of 95.58%. Overall, about 20.1% of adolescent girls are stunted. The prevalence of stunting among adolescent girls was 24.2% in rural areas and 16% in urban areas. Similarly, the overall prevalence of thinness among adolescent girls was 10.3%. Thinness among urban school adolescent girls were 12.1% and 8.5% in rural areas. No latrine(AOR= 1.954,95% CI: 1.114-3.427), lowest media exposure(AOR= 5.135, 95% CI: 1.159-22.741), lower wealth class(AOR=2.583,95% CI: 1.310-5.091), and middle wealth class(AOR=2.366, 95% CI: 1.230-4.554) have risen the likelihood of stunting in rural adolescent girls while early adolescent age (AOR=3.170,95% CI:1.446-6.946) were significantly associated with stunting in urban setting. Middle adolescent age groups in rural have experienced thinness (AOD=3.665 95% CI:1.205-11.149). whereas urban resident girls fall in early adolescent age group developed thinness (AOR=8.378,95%CI:2.480-28.301) Conclusions and recommendations: Stunting was higher among rural than urban residents’ girls. However, thinness was higher among urban than rural adolescent girls. Lower wealth class, food insecurity, lowest media exposure, and age were significantly associated with stunting and thinness. Hence; it requires attention through increase latrine coverage, boosting the economic status of the community. And increase media exposure of adolescent girls. Keywords: Adolescent girls; Debark; Risk factor; Rural; Stunted; Thinness; Urban.