title: A low pulse food intake may contribute to the poor nutritional status and low dietary intakes of adolescent girls in rural southern Ethiopia.
abstract: Poor nutrition in adolescent girls poses critical health risks on future pregnancy and birth outcomes especially in developing countries. Our purpose was to assess nutritional status and dietary intake of rural adolescent girls and determine pulse and food intake patterns associated with poor nutritional status. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in a traditional pulse growing region of southern Ethiopia on 188 girls between 15 to 19 years of age, with 70% being from food insecure families. Prevalence of stunting (30.9%) and underweight (13.3%) were associated with low food and nutrient intake. Diets were cereal-based, with both animal source foods and pulses rarely consumed. Improving dietary intakes of female adolescents with nutrient dense foods would ensure better health for themselves and for the next generation.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nutrition and Food Science , Hawassa University , Awassa , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Alemzewed C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Roba
authors.forename: Kebebush
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gabriel-Micheal
authors.forename: Gordon A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zello
authors.forename: Joann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007887:Fabaceae; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012639:Seeds; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: Ethiopia; adolescent girls; dietary intakes; pulses; stunting; underweight