“Knowledge Regarding Nutritional Diet in Prevention of Malnutrition among Adolescent’s Girls in Selected Higher Secondary School of Waghodia Taluka” Vadodara, Gujarat

Abstract

Background of the Study: Malnutrition has become an urgent global health issue in all age group as especially in adolescents. Globally adolescents constitute one-fifth of the total global population in which adolescent girls have devastating effects of malnutrition on them due to lack of knowledge. Malnutrition among adolescent girls is a significant public health concern with far-reaching consequences. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that  includes improving access to nutritious food, enhancing healthcare services, promoting nutritional education, and addressing socioeconomic and cultural barriers. By emphasing on the unique needs and challenges faced by adolescent girls, we can improve their health outcomes and support their development into healthy, productive adults.

Objectives of the Study: Firstly, to assess the knowledge regarding nutritional diet in prevention of malnutrition among adolescents girls and to find association between knowledge score with selected demographic variables.

Method: The Descriptive study was carried out with a sample size of 60 adolescent’s girls studding in High schools of Waghodia Taluka. A Convenience Sampling Technique was carried out to obtained desired candidates. A self -structure questionnaire was made to get data that would help in assessing knowledge level as well as association between knowledge score with selected demographic variable for adolescent’s girls. Chi- square test was done to obtained significance. The inferential Statistics were calculated.

Result: The analysis suggests that while there are significant associations between knowledge scores and certain demographic variables like religion (p = 0.033) there isn't a clear association with others such as age (p= 0.346), occupation, (p= 0.558), income (p=0.496), or sources of information(p=0.780). This indicates that knowledge scores might be influenced by religious affiliation but not necessarily by other demographic factors in this data

Conclusion: It conclude that there was average level of knowledge in adolescent girls regarding nutritional diet that can prevent malnutrition and for the association between knowledge and demographic variables only religion had significance, no any demographic variables were significant.