Inadequate nutrients intake and wasting status among adolescent students in Small Island of Indonesia

Abstract

Objective

The study aimed to explore nutrients intake and wasting among adolescent students in a small island of Makassar city, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.

Methods

The study involved 103 students grade 8th and 9th using cross sectional design. Nutrients (calorie, protein, and lipid) intake was collected within two consecutive days using food recall 24 h questionnaire. It was analyzed using Nutrisurvey and categorized based on Indonesian Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adolescents. Categorization of wasting was based on the WHO Reference 2007 BMI for age. Chi-square and T-test were performed to test the variables.

Results

Mean age of sample was 13.5 ± 0.6 years and mostly girls. Majority of fathers’ occupation was fisherman and mothers as housewife which have monthly incomes less than minimum wages of city. Only 24.5% and 13.6% of adolescents consume adequate calorie and protein, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed that there the significant correlation between gender, have urticarial and nutrients intake (P < 0.05). However, diarrhea, mother educational level, monthly parents’ wages and wasting were not correlate with nutrients intake (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Adolescents living in small island are prone to inadequate nutrient intakes, particularly calorie and protein. Gender and urticarial are correlated significantly with nutrient intakes.