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Lifestyle and anthropometric assessment of in-school adolescents in rural and urban communities of Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Adolescence is marked by considerable existential conflicts as well as exposure and vulnerability to substance abuse. Poor lifestyle behaviour of adolescents today constitute risk factor for future adult’s health status. The study assessed the anthropometric status and lifestyle behaviour of in-school adolescents of rural and urban communities in Nsukka local government area, Enugu state.
Methods: A cross sectional study of 375 in-school adolescents randomly selected from urban and rural secondary schools in Nsukka local government area was done using a multistage sampling technique. Structured and validated questionnaire were administered to the subjects to elicit information on the socio-demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle behavior characteristics. Anthropometric assessment was carried out using standard methods and the data obtained was categorized using World Health Organization Z- scores standard. Data obtained from the questionnaire was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data and inferential statistics (t-test and chi-square) was used to compare associations. Significance level was set at p<0.05.
Results: More than half (69.3%) of the respondents were females, 48.5% of the respondents were in the middle adolescence (14 -16 years). The prevalence rates of underweight and obesity among the adolescents in the urban areas are 26.9% and 0.8% respectively while in the rural areas they are 22.1% and 1.2% respectively. Proportion that participated in exercise were 85.7% and 80.8% in the rural and urban areas respectively but more of those in the urban areas took part in vigorous intensity exercises (65.4%). Smoking pattern showed that 0.8% and 1.2% in the urban and rural areas indulged in cigarette smoking and only rural adolescents admitted to the smoking of Indian hemp (3.7%). Alcohol intake was also significantly higher in the rural adolescents (31.4%) when compared to their urban counterparts (12.3%). There exists significant difference (p=0.000) for alcohol intake between the urban and rural adolescents, frequency of physical activity between the rural and urban adolescents, education level of sponsors in both rural and urban areas. There also exists a significance difference (p=0.003) for the duration of physical activities.
Conclusion: This study revealed prevalence of double burden of malnutrition (overweight/obesity and underweight), poor lifestyle behavior among adolescents in urban and rural secondary schools in Nsukka.
