Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention to Improve Dietary Behavior of School-going Adolescent Girls: a Quasi-experimental Study in District Gujrat

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is the transitional phase of age that links childhood to adulthood. Adolescence constitutes about 1 in 6^th of the world’s population today. Among adolescents, girls are extremely vulnerable, as it is a period of rapid growth & development. Major issue is skipping breakfast by adolescents due to late night working.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of educational intervention for improving dietary behavior and perceptions on nutrition of school going adolescent girls in District Gujrat.   

Study type, settings & duration: This was a Quasi Experimental study conducted in a private school in District Gujrat Punjab Pakistan from May to August 2019.  

Methodology: A quasi experimental study design (pre-post-test) was conducted on school going adolescent girls patients having age 10-18 years. Convenient sampling technique was used. 168 students were enrolled for the study purpose (for baseline as well as follow up). A standard tool adapted from WHO and contextualized for the study population and pretested was used to assess the adolescent girls’ knowledge on nutrition and improving dietary practices. After a baseline assessment (pre-test), an educational workshop was conducted and post-test was carried after a span of one month. Using SPSS, the differences in knowledge attitude and practices were determined in by undertaking paired T-test.

Results: Among 168 students, only 9 (5.4%) knew at baseline about the expert’s advice of servings of fruits and vegetables people ate at a minimum in one day, while in follow up-test a significant increase was shown i-e. 80 (47.6%) (8.686, p-value (<0.001)............