Association Between Nutritional Knowledge, Nutritional Status and Sociodemographic Factors of High School Children: A Cross sectional Study on Uttara, Dhaka

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between the nutritional knowledge, nutritional status, and sociodemographic factors of high school students in Uttara, Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was carried out utilizing structured questionnaire. The WHO Adolescent Nutritional Status Guideline was followed for nutritional status assessment. The relationship between various parameters and both nutritional status and nutrition knowledge scores was assessed using frequency and bivariate analysis, which also established the connection between nutritional status and nutrition knowledge. Two hundred pupilsin all answered the survey. 55.5% of the respondents were between the ages of 15 and 16. Sixty-six percent were in class 9 to class 10, and the majority, 53.5%, were female. The majority of households (24.5%), however, made between 10,000 and 20,000 BDT. Out of the 200 students, the majority (49.5%) had a moderate degree of nutrition awareness, while 43.5% had strong nutrition knowledge. Relying on the original Bloom's cutoff values, just 7% had inadequate nutrition knowledge. Students'education level, gender, age, and home income are the primary factors that determine their nutrition awareness score at p < 0.05. Additionally, out of the 200 individuals, 70% had normal height, 20.5% had mild stunting, and 9% had severe stunting. Similarly, the majority (69%), while 12% were underweight, were normal weight. Of those, 6.5% were obese and 12.5% were overweight. A significant correlation (P<0.005) was found between the height-for-age z score and the pupils' age and gender. Only gender and body-mass-index for age z score were associated (P<0.005). A strong correlation was found between BAZ and nutritional status (p<0.005).