Prevalence and socio-demographic determinants of double burden of malnutrition amongst school going girls in rural area of Haryana: A cross sectional study

Both undernutrition and overnutrition coexist within the adolescent population and is commonly known as double burden of malnutrition. Growth monitoring by anthropometric measurement during adolescence is an important health indicator and also a predictor of morbidity in the community, as anthropometry is universally applicable. Unfortunately, assessment of nutritional status of adolescent girls has been the least explored area of research particularly in rural India, hence the present study was planned to estimate the prevalence of double burden of malnutrition in rural area of North India.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among#1000 school going adolescent girls from the 10 senior secondary schools of Lakhanmajra block of district Rohtak, Haryana, from April 2019- Jan 2020. Data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured interview schedule.

A total of 1000 school going adolescent girls from senior secondary schools were included in the study. The mean age of the girls was 14.73 ± 1.736 years. Majority of adolescent girls (82.6%) had BMI in normal range. Prevalence of thinness was 12.2% and 4.0% adolescent girls were overweight. Age category, number of family members and type of family were found to be significantly associated with age specific BMI.

Double burden of malnutrition is a growing concern among adolescent girls in developing countries with increase in prevalence of both underweight and overweight. The malnutrition is closely associated with socio-demographic determinants. In order to curb the problem of malnutrition, these determinants need to be addressed as a part of holistic approach.