Peer-reviewed article
Composite index anthropometric failures and associated factors among school adolescent girls in Debre Berhan city, central Ethiopia.
Lambebo A, Birhane D, Zekarias F ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001A study of 623 school girls in Debre Berhan, Ethiopia found that 30.2% experienced anthropometric failure, combining both undernutrition (22.5%) and overnutrition (7.7%). Undernutrition was linked to large family size, low household wealth, infrequent meals, poor diet diversity, and recent illness. Overweight was associated with fast food consumption, lack of nutrition knowledge, and low physical activity. The findings suggest single measures of malnutrition underestimate the true extent of nutritional problems among adolescent girls.
Key points
- Composite index anthropometric failure affected 30.2% of school adolescent girls, more than single indices would show
- Undernutrition (22.5%) was associated with family size ≥5, low wealth, inadequate meal frequency, poor dietary diversity, and recent illness
- Overweight/obesity (7.7%) was associated with fast food consumption, lacking nutrition information, and insufficient physical activity
- One-third of participants experienced some form of anthropometric failure
- Integrated school-based nutrition programs and community strategies to address socioeconomic disparities are needed
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional and conducted in a single city, so it cannot establish causation or be generalised to all adolescent girls in Ethiopia. The findings reflect prevalence at one point in time and do not capture dietary or activity changes over time.
Abstract
Background Composite Index of Anthropometric Failures (CIAF) summarizes anthropometric failure, including both deficiency and excess weight, by combining multiple indicators. However, most studies in some parts of Ethiopia still rely on conventional single anthropometric indices, which underestimate the extent of the problem. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of composite index anthropometric failures (CIAF) among school adolescent girls in Debre Berhan City, central Ethiopia in 2023. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 29 to May 30, 2023. The sample included 623 adolescent girls selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and anthropometric status indices were generated using WHO Anthroplus software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between independent and dependent variables, with statistical significance declared at p < 0.05. Results The prevalence of composite index anthropometric failure was 30.2% (95% CI: 26.6-33.9%), comprising undernutrition (22.5%, 95% CI: 19.1-26.0%) and over nutrition (7.7%, 95% CI: 5.8-10.0%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified several factors associated with undernutrition, including family size ≥ 5, low wealth index tertile, inadequate meal frequency (< 3 per day), poor dietary diversity practice, and recent illness. Overweight/obesity was significantly associated with factors such as consuming fast foods, lacking nutrition information, and not engaging in moderate-intensity activities. Conclusion The study revealed a higher prevalence of overall malnutrition (30.2%) when considering composite index anthropometric failure compared to single indices. Approximately one-third of the study participants experienced some form of anthropometric failure. Policy and practical implications The findings underscore the need for integrated school based nutrition programs targeting dietary diversity, meal frequency, and physical activity, as well as community level strategies to address socioeconomic disparities.