Perception and Practice of Food Habit and Nutritional Status of Adolescent Girls: A Comparative Study between Garment Workers and School Going Girls

Abstract

Adolescent health has become one of the most widely discussed and sensitive issues. In Bangladesh 21% is adolescent of the total population. In Bangladesh more than one third of adolescents are not properly aware of the increased nutritional requirement during the adolescent period for proper growth. Therefore our study was proposed to know the perception and practice of food habit and nutritional status of adolescent girls between two groups. To find out the perception and practice about food habit of garment workers and school going adolescent girls and their comparative nutritional status. A cross sectional study was conducted in Samars Fashion Tex Ltd. Badda, FS Sweater Ltd Mirpur, Dhaka and Azimpur Girls High School, Kurmitola High School, Ali Hussein Girls High School, Jatrabari Ideal School, Udayan High School in Dhaka city. Total sample size was 210 and study was based on adolescent girls’ age between 10 to 19 years. 110 adolescent girls were randomly chosen from the 2 garment industries and 100 adolescent girls from the 5 schools in Dhaka city. In our study, both of the groups have well perception about nutritive food. (P value =0.004). Both of them think that they need more food during pregnancy,(P value = 0.005). The hygiene practices in both groups were almost 90% hygienic. With the results of this study it can possible to decrease the superstition and restriction about food habit. The improvements could have been possible due to correct and specific nutrition education to the garment workers and school going adolescent girls. The authors are very thankful to Nutrition Foundation of Bangladesh (NFB), and five schools, two garments, BMRC for their kind cooperation. Proper information should be given about nutritive food in both groups. Some steps should be taken to change their food habit and improve their nutritional status.

Keywords: Perception, Practice, Hygiene, Nutritional Status, Adolescent girls.