ARTICLE Year : 2016 | Volume : 10 | Issue : 1 | Page : 2--9 The effect of some social factors on adolescents nutritional status in an oil-rich Niger-Delta region of Nigeria PN Tabansi1, AF Adesina2, IC Anochie1 1 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Port Harcourt, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, East-West road, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 2 Department of Pediatrics, Lagos State Health Management Board, Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle, Lagos State, Nigeria Correspondence Address: Aim: To determine the effect of some social factors on the nutritional status of adolescents in Port Harcourt. Methods: A multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 960 adolescents from eight secondary schools in Port Harcourt. Using an investigator-administered questionnaire, information on their socio-economic status, eating habits, food content and level of activity was obtained. Anthropometric measurements were taken and BMI calculated using the formula weight/height 2 (kg/m 2 ). This was then used to categorize their nutritional status. The results were analyzed using SPSS 14 and EPI Info 6.04. Results: Eight hundred and nineteen adolescents (85.3%) had normal weight, 61(6.4%) were underweight while 17 (1.8%) were obese. Significantly more males (8.9%) were underweight compared to females (3.8%); while females were significantly more overweight and obese than males. Consumption of snacks (17.4%), soft drinks (10%), higher social economic class (11.5%) and watching television for >3hrs a day (18.6%) were associated with overweight and obesity. Conclusion: Social economic status, snacking and hours spent watching television have a detrimental effect on the nutritional status of adolescents in Port Harcourt.
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