Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls : an Intervention Study

The present study was undertaken to quantitatively evaluate the nutritional status and knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescent girls under launched NAGS of ICDS. The impact of improved module of nutrition and health education along with modified and enhanced supplementation was also assessed in quantifiable terms. It was a pre-and post-design study conducted on 171 adolescent girls in the age group of 9 -15 years who were selected purposively and served as Experimental group. For the purpose of evaluation of ongoing scheme, 60 adolescent girls were enrolled, which served as Ongoing group. A significant correlation between knowledge and practices followed by knowledge and attitudes was observed but the correlation between attitudes and practices was not significant. Another interesting finding was that improvement in scores of knowledge, attitudes and practices was higher in younger girls as compared to older girls. Thus, a combination of dietary and nutrient supplementation for longer duration especially if given before menarche along with NHHCC education to younger adolescent girls would improve their nutritional status and knowledge, attitudes and practices.